DUBAI: A brilliant century from Virat Kohli propelled India to a dominant six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. With this win, India advances to the semi-finals.
Chasing a modest target of 242, India got off to a flying start, accumulating 64 runs in the powerplay despite the early dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma.
The Indian opener was clean bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi for 20 off 15 balls, with three fours and a six. India found themselves at 31-1 after five overs, but Virat Kohli joined Shubman Gill, the No. 1 ODI batter in the ICC rankings, and the duo provided stability to the chase.
Pakistan’s fielding missteps proved costly, with both Kohli and Gill being dropped in two consecutive deliveries. The pair capitalised on these reprieves, adding 69 runs for the second wicket.
India crossed the 100-run mark, but Pakistan finally struck back when Abrar Ahmed dismissed Gill for 46 off 52 balls, with seven fours. This left India at 100-2 in the 18th over.
Kohli, who was celebrating the milestone of 14,000 career ODI runs, continued to anchor India’s chase, and he was joined by Shreyas Iyer.
The two formed an unbroken 114-run partnership for the third wicket, with Iyer contributing 56 runs from 52 balls, including seven fours and a six.
Pakistan’s woes in the field continued as Iyer was offered another chance when Saud Shakeel dropped a catch at short mid-wicket.
Despite two quick wickets—Gill and Iyer—Pakistan were unable to stem the flow of runs, and India inched closer to victory.
Kohli, unbeaten on 100 from 84 balls, guided India past the target, while Hardik Pandya (8) fell cheaply. India completed their chase with ease, securing a six-wicket win.
India close to victory
India reached 160/2 after 30 overs in their crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Pakistan, with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer driving the chase following the departure of openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.
A powerful shot over cover point off Naseem Shah’s pace brings Kohli to his milestone.
Sharma and Gill provided India with a strong start before Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed the skipper for 20 in the fifth over. Gill, who looked solid, fell for 46 to Abrar Ahmed in the 18th over.
Despite these wickets, India maintained their scoring momentum.
Kohli achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 14,000 runs in ODIs, becoming only the third batter after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara to reach the landmark.
He also became the fastest to do so, achieving the feat in just 287 innings, ahead of Tendulkar (350) and Sangakkara (378).
At the crease, Kohli is unbeaten on 64, while Iyer is on 17 as India continue their pursuit of Pakistan’s 242-run target.
Dinesh Karthik made a great point on commentary about Shreyas Iyer’s new batting stance. Iyer now positions his hands high and swings the bat up and down while waiting for fast bowlers.
Similarly, Iyer’s bat-waving could be preparing him for the pull shot. He demonstrated this perfectly with a pull off a 143 kph Haris Rauf delivery, making a sweet connection that sent the ball flying well in front of square and midwicket.
Kohli reaches 14,000 ODI runs
Virat Kohli reached a major milestone in his illustrious career, surpassing 14,000 runs in One-Day Internationals, as he and Shubman Gill steadied India’s chase of a 242-run target against Pakistan in their must-win ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India stood at 107 for 2 after 19 overs when Gill, who had looked set at the crease, fell for 46 off 52 balls to Abrar Ahmed’s spin.
Gill provided stability to India’s innings after captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed earlier by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Shreyas Iyer has now joined Kohli at the crease.
Kohli, batting on 27, played his first boundary of the innings in typical style, sending the Dubai crowd into a frenzy.
He relishes pace bowling, demonstrating his class against Haris Rauf’s 145 kph deliveries, executing each stroke with precision.
However, he has appeared more cautious against Abrar Ahmed’s spin, reluctant to step forward even to fuller deliveries, as Pakistan seek to apply pressure.
Gill, Kohli steady India
Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied India’s chase after the early dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma as they pursued a 242-run target set by Pakistan in a must-win ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India reached 84 for 1 after 13 overs, with Gill batting confidently on 42 off 46 balls, while Kohli is unbeaten on 23 off 25.
Earlier, India got off to a flying start with Sharma and Gill taking on the Pakistani attack. However, Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in the fifth over, removing Sharma for 20, to provide Pakistan with an early breakthrough.
Shaheen Shah removes Rohit Sharma
Pakistan made an early breakthrough in India’s chase as Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed captain Rohit Sharma, leaving India at 31 for 1 in 5.4 overs in their pursuit of 242 in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
Shaheen, who has been consistently clocking 145 kph, bowled with aggression and precision. Though he has not been getting much swing, his lethal yorkers have been a key feature of his spell. Sharma, after dispatching a four, fell to Shaheen’s pace, giving Pakistan a crucial opening in the high-stakes encounter.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has looked confident at the crease, punishing Shaheen’s attempted yorker by driving it through the covers. With India’s deep batting lineup, Pakistan will need to capitalize on this early breakthrough to stay in the contest.
Pakistan set 242-run target
Earlier, batting first, Pakistan managed to set a modest target of 242 for India, striving to keep their hopes alive in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in a must-win showdown at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts could accumulate 241 runs before getting bowled out in the final over despite an anchoring half-century by Saud Shakeel.
Pakistan’s batting order found itself ensnared by the crafty Indian spin attack on a sluggish pitch. Indian captain Rohit Sharma deftly orchestrated the spin brigade, with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja each claiming three and one wicket, respectively.
Pakistan’s new opening pair of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq looked in fine touch as they added 41 runs before Hardik Pandya provided a much-needed breakthrough to India by getting the former caught behind. Babar scored 23 off 26 deliveries, smashing five boundaries in the process.
Making his return to the national team, Imam could not convert a cautious start into a big knock as he was run out by Axar Patel in the next over, resulting in Pakistan slipping to 47/2 in 9.2 overs.
Following the back-to-back blows, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud partnered to force recovery.
The pair batted sensibly to add an important 104 runs for the third wicket until Rizwan was cleaned up by Axar Patel in the 34th over. The Pakistan captain mustered 46 runs from 77 balls with the help of three fours.
Pakistan’s batting mainstay Saud followed suit just eight deliveries later, walking back after top-scoring with a 76-ball 62, comprised of five fours.
Experienced Ravindra Jadeja then strengthened India’s command by cleaning up Tayyab Tahir (four) and reduced Pakistan to 165/5 in 36.1 overs.
Pakistan vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah then forged a 35-run partnership to take their team’s total to the 200-run mark but Kuldeep Yadav denied them a comeback by striking twice on consecutive deliveries.
Khushdil then took the reins of Pakistan’s batting expedition and scored 38 off 39 deliveries with the help of two fours.
He was also involved in brief partnerships with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who made 14 and eight respectively.
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking three wickets, followed by Pandya with two, while Harshit Rana, Jadeja and Patel made one scalp apiece.
Yadav struck gold in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi, before wrapping up Naseem Shah’s wicket as Pakistan surged past the 200-run threshold in a thrilling Group A showdown.
In the dying moments of the innings, Harshit Rana claimed the scalp of Khushdil Shah, while Hardik Pandya claimed two wickets. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja each contributed with one wicket, rounding off a formidable bowling performance.
Pakistan Playing XI
Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.
India Playing XI
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Pavindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav.
