India Make It Two in Two, Pakistan on the Brink
India continued their dominant run in the Champions Trophy 2025 with a clinical victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, securing their second win in the group stage and almost guaranteeing a semifinal berth. The man of the moment? Virat Kohli, who once again stood tall on the big stage with a composed and commanding 100*(111), bringing up his 51st ODI century and fifth Player of the Match award against Pakistan in ICC events.
Pakistan Falter After Promising Start
Pakistan, batting first after winning the toss, posted a below-par total of 240. While Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel tried to steady the innings with a decent partnership, India’s spinners—Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja—kept things tight in the middle overs. “We took time because we wanted to take it deep,” Rizwan explained post-match, “but poor shot selection let us down.”
Rohit’s Tactical Brilliance With the Ball
Rohit Sharma once again proved his leadership mettle, employing six bowlers and managing workloads to perfection. “The way we started with the ball was superb,” he said. “The spinners stepped up, and then the pacers like Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, and Mohammed Shami did the rest.”
Kohli, Shreyas Take India Over the Line
The chase wasn’t entirely straightforward. After losing Rohit early, Shubman Gill and Kohli stitched together a steady stand, until Abrar Ahmed bowled Gill with a peach. With the score at 100/2, in walked Shreyas Iyer. Though he began slowly, Shreyas picked up pace just when needed, and the Kohli-Iyer duo ensured the game didn’t slip out of control. They forged a match-winning century partnership, displaying composure and game awareness.
“My job was to control the middle overs against the spinners,” said Kohli. “Having clarity and blocking out the noise is key. At 36, it takes a lot, so I’ll be enjoying the week off!”
King Kohli’s Love Affair With Pakistan
This latest ton adds to Kohli’s legendary record vs Pakistan in ICC events:
- 78*(61) – World T20 2012 (Colombo RPS)
- 107(126) – World Cup 2015 (Adelaide)
- 55*(37) – World T20 2016 (Kolkata)
- 82*(53) – T20 World Cup 2022 (Melbourne)
- 100*(111) – Champions Trophy 2025 (Dubai)
He now holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards (5) against a single opponent in ICC tournaments.
Pakistan’s Campaign in Trouble
With two losses in as many games, the defending champions are staring at an early exit unless they stage a massive comeback. Rizwan admitted, “We made too many mistakes. Our fielding let us down again. We’ll have to work hard if we want to stay alive.”
India on a Roll
India’s batting depth, versatile bowling, and composure under pressure have been key takeaways from their campaign so far. With a week’s break coming up, the team looks poised for a strong finish in the group stages.
Category: Cricket, Champions Trophy 2025, Match Highlights
Tags: India vs Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Rizwan, Abrar Ahmed, ICC records, Kohli 51st ton
