The greatest rivalry in cricket once again witnessed a Virat Kohli masterclass, as the Indian batting legend smashed his 82nd international century. His stellar performance led India to a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan, handing them their second consecutive loss in the ICC Champions Trophy. With this defeat, Pakistan’s chances in the tournament now look bleak.
India’s Chase: Kohli Leads the Way
India suffered an early setback, losing a wicket in the initial overs. However, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied the innings, playing with confidence and intent. At no point did Pakistan’s bowlers look capable of putting pressure on the Indian batters.
Gill played a solid knock of 46 off 52 balls before being clean-bowled by spinner Abrar Ahmed. Meanwhile, Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking, rotating the strike and accelerating the chase. Shreyas Iyer provided crucial support, forming a vital partnership with Kohli. He scored 56 off 67 balls, frustrating the Pakistani bowling attack.
The highlight of the match was Kohli’s 51st ODI century, marking a strong comeback to form. His return to peak performance is a massive boost for Team India, especially with bigger matches against top teams approaching.
With this dominant victory, India further strengthened its position in the tournament, while Pakistan faces an uphill battle to stay in contention.
Match Summary: India vs Pakistan
The match took place in Dubai, where Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first. As per reports, the pitch was favorable for batting. The opening pair of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq started strong, displaying good intent and building a solid partnership. However, the momentum shifted when Hardik Pandya came in to bowl and dismissed Babar Azam (23), giving India a crucial breakthrough.
Soon after, Imam-ul-Haq, who was looking in great touch, was run out by Axar Patel, dealing another blow to Pakistan. With two quick wickets, India gained control of the match.
For the third and fourth wickets, captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Saud Shakeel (62) built a decent partnership. However, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya struck at the right time, breaking their stand and putting Pakistan on the back foot.
The Pakistani middle order crumbled, allowing the Indian bowlers to dominate. Khushdil Shah fought back with some valuable runs, holding one end, but his efforts were not enough. Eventually, Pakistan was bowled out for 241 runs.
Edited By- Parth Singh
