Virat Kohli once again proved why he is India’s batting talisman, crafting an unbeaten 100 off 111 deliveries to lead his side to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a high-stakes Champions Trophy clash. His 51st ODI century, the most by any batter in the format, came in a calculated chase of 242, ensuring India’s passage to the semifinals remained firmly on track.
Along the way, the 36-year-old crossed 14,000 ODI runs, joining the elite company of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara as only the third batter to achieve the milestone.
Pakistan’s Early Strikes and India’s Recovery
Chasing 242, India got off to a brisk start but suffered an early blow when Shaheen Afridi rattled Rohit Sharma’s stumps in the powerplay. The Indian captain had made his intentions clear by blasting three boundaries and a six, but Afridi’s late movement through the air ended his stay at the crease.
With Shubman Gill (46 off 52) counter-attacking at the other end, India looked poised to take control. The young opener laced seven boundaries but was eventually undone by Abrar Ahmed’s masterful leg-break, which sneaked past his defense to crash into the stumps.
From 93/2, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (56 off 77) steered the chase with a 114-run stand, rotating the strike efficiently and picking their moments to attack. Iyer reached his half-century before Khushdil Shah’s sharp reflexes saw him caught off Imam-ul-Haq’s diving effort. Shaheen then struck again, removing Hardik Pandya for a brief six-ball stay, briefly reigniting Pakistan’s hopes.
But Kohli, ever the composed finisher, ensured no further hiccups, guiding India home alongside Axar Patel with 45 deliveries to spare.
Kuldeep’s Magic Restricts Pakistan to 241
Earlier, India’s spinners dictated terms after Pakistan opted to bat first. Babar Azam (24) showed early promise, stroking classic boundaries off Harshit Rana, but Hardik Pandya got the better of him, forcing an edge behind to KL Rahul. Imam-ul-Haq (10) soon followed, courtesy of a sharp direct hit from Axar Patel, leaving Pakistan stuttering at 41/2 in the powerplay.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan (54) and Saud Shakeel (59) then stitched a 104-run stand, stabilizing the innings. Shakeel brought up his fourth ODI fifty, but just when Pakistan looked set for a competitive total, Axar Patel deceived Rizwan in flight, knocking back his stumps.
Hardik returned to remove Shakeel, while Ravindra Jadeja cleaned up Tayyab Tahir, triggering a collapse at 165/5.
Enter Kuldeep Yadav, who weaved his magic in the death overs. The wrist-spinner dismantled Pakistan’s lower order, scalping three wickets, including Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Afridi in consecutive deliveries. Khushdil Shah (38) offered resistance, launching a late counterattack, but Harshit Rana’s pinpoint yorker ended Pakistan’s innings at 241.
What’s Next?
With this emphatic win, India further solidified their claim for a semifinal spot, while Pakistan now face a must-win scenario in their final group-stage match to stay alive in the tournament.
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