Virat Kohli’s 51st century in one-day internationals guided India to a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai, bringing them to the brink of the Champions Trophy semi-finals. His unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, highlighted by a crisp cover drive to seal the win, also saw him surpass 14,000 ODI runs, making him only the third batter to reach the milestone after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
Pakistan, having been bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs, failed to build on a promising start. After losing Imam-ul-Haq to an unfortunate run-out, Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46) steadied the innings with a 104-run stand for the third wicket. However, from a solid position at 151 for two in the 34th over, they suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their last eight wickets for just 90 runs. Kuldeep Yadav played a crucial role in India’s bowling effort, taking three wickets for 40 runs, while Kohli added to his fielding accolades by taking two catches, making him India’s most successful outfielder with 158 career catches, surpassing Mohammad Azharuddin.
With India needing 242 for victory, captain Rohit Sharma got off to a brisk start but was bowled for 20 by Shaheen Afridi. Shubman Gill, looking fluent, contributed 46 before being dismissed, leaving Kohli to anchor the innings. His partnership with Shreyas Iyer (56) proved decisive, with the duo putting on 114 runs to ensure India remained in control of the chase. While Iyer and Hardik Pandya departed in quick succession, Kohli remained steadfast, ensuring there was no panic in the run pursuit.
Kohli reached his century in style, stepping down the track to left-arm spinner Khushdil Shah and driving through the covers. His celebrations reflected both personal relief and the significance of the win, especially given India’s dominant position in the tournament. The victory marked India’s second win in as many matches, following their opening triumph against Bangladesh, while Pakistan’s second consecutive defeat left them on the verge of elimination.
The hybrid model of the tournament meant that all of India’s games were scheduled in the UAE, as they opted not to travel to Pakistan. Pakistan, having played their first match in Karachi against New Zealand, had to fly to Dubai for this high-stakes encounter. The highly anticipated clash was expected to attract over a billion viewers worldwide, given the historic rivalry between the two teams.
For Pakistan, the road ahead looks difficult. Their fate now depends on the result of New Zealand’s clash with Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. If New Zealand wins, Pakistan will be eliminated, and India’s place in the semi-finals will be confirmed.
Reflecting on his performance, Kohli expressed satisfaction at having delivered in a crucial game. “It feels good to bat in this manner in an important match where we wanted to more or less seal our qualification into the semis,” he said after collecting the player-of-the-match award. “My job was clear to control the middle overs, go after the seamers when possible, and keep rotating strike against the spinners. Towards the end, Shreyas accelerated, and I managed to find a few boundaries. This is how I like to play ODI cricket, and I was happy with the way it worked out.”
India’s clinical performance reaffirmed their status as one of the tournament favorites, while Pakistan’s struggles continued, raising concerns about their ability to handle pressure in big games. With the group stage nearing its conclusion, the race for the semi-finals is intensifying, and India has taken a major step towards securing their place in the knockout rounds.
