Kohli’s century leads India to win over Pakistan in 2025 Champions Trophy
India secured a dominant six-wicket win over Pakistan in their pivotal 2025 Champions Trophy Group A clash on February 23. Virat Kohli led the chase with an unbeaten century, helping India easily reach the target of 244-4 in 42.3 overs.
Not only did India win, but Kohli also set a record-breaking 14,000 runs in the match in just 287 innings. He is now the fastest batter to reach said figure in the history of ODI cricket. This is his 51st ODI century.
According to the star player, after losing top batter Rohit Sharma early in the game, it was his job to control the middle overs without taking too many risks. ‘It allowed me to play my usual ODI game’, he shared.
Thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s solid support, India gained 56 more runs, with their top order never allowing Pakistan to gain control. This victory strengthens India’s chances of advancing to the semi-finals, while Pakistan’s hopes are now blurring out.
Pakistan struggles with the bat
Pakistan took off with the match after winning the toss and opting to bat. The team posted a total of 241 runs in 49.4 overs, with Saud Shakeel top-scoring with 62 off 76, sharing a 104-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan.
Despite a steady start, Pakistan’s middle order struggled against India’s tough bowling attack. India’s Kuldeep Yadav takes the second standout bowler, thanks to his spin attack which took 3 for 40, while Mohammed Shami helped contain the runs and take wickets.
Pakistan hoped for a bigger total, but wickets at crucial moments halted their momentum. Their inability to accelerate in the final overs proved costly, leaving India with a manageable chase.
‘270-280 would have been good on this pitch…[but] we lost wickets and our shot selection was poor. In turn, our middle-order crumbled’, Pakistan captain Rizwan pointed out. Disappointed, the captain knew they were making the same mistakes after the team’s defeat against New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match.
Pakistan, who won against India in the finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy that led to their win, will face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.
India: Title favourite?
India’s win puts them in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals, essentially crossing out Pakistan’s chance from the tournament. Their next match against New Zealand on March 02 in UAE will determine whether they finish at the top of Group A—giving them an edge in the knockout stage fixture.
With Kohli returning to form and their bowlers performing well, India appears to be one of the favourites for the title. If they continue to play in this state, they’re one strong contender for the Champions Trophy.
Related Tags:
