Champions Trophy 2025: Kohli’s 51st ODI ton powers India to victory over Pakistan
Pakistan on brink of elimination after back-to-back defeats
DUBAI: India continued their dominance over Pakistan in ICC tournaments with a commanding six-wicket victory in the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Star player Virat Kohli stole the show with an unbeaten century, his 51st in ODIs, guiding India to a successful chase of 242 with 7.3 overs to spare.
Electing to bat first, Pakistan failed to gain momentum on a sluggish pitch. Their innings got off to a shaky start as both openers, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, departed within the powerplay. Captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Saud Shakeel (62) attempted to rebuild with a 104-run partnership, but neither managed to convert their starts into a match-winning knock.
Khushdil Shah’s 38 provided some resistance, but Pakistan’s lower order crumbled under pressure. Kuldeep Yadav emerged as India’s key bowler, finishing with 3/40, while Hardik Pandya’s disciplined spell included two crucial wickets, keeping Pakistan to 241 in 49.4 overs.
India’s response was clinical, led by Kohli’s masterclass. Shubman Gill (46) played fluently at the top, while Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (56) consolidated the innings with a 114-run stand. Kohli, who has a history of producing special knocks in Dubai, brought up his century in style, sealing the victory with a boundary.
Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain India’s batting firepower, with Abrar Ahmed managing a solitary breakthrough. The lack of early wickets meant India always had control, cruising to 244/4 in just 42.3 overs.
What’s next for Pakistan?
This defeat leaves Pakistan in a precarious position in Group A. Having already lost their opening match against New Zealand, they now find themselves on the brink of elimination. Their only path to the semi-finals relies on New Zealand losing both of their remaining fixtures, while Pakistan must defeat Bangladesh by a significant margin to improve their net run rate.
New Zealand, currently holding the upper hand, are set to face Bangladesh next. If the Kiwis secure a win, Pakistan’s campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025 will effectively come to an end before their final group-stage fixture.
India march towards semi-finals
With this victory, India have virtually secured a semi-final spot, remaining unbeaten in the tournament so far. Their record against Pakistan in ICC events continues to be unblemished since the 2017 Champions Trophy final, extending their streak to 6-0.
The tournament, running from February 19 to March 9, will see the top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals. While Lahore was initially set to host the final, security concerns mean that if India qualify, the venue will shift to Dubai.