Brilliant Indian batsman Virat Kohli crafted a mesmerizing unbeaten century, scoring a splendid 100 to steer India to a triumphant six-wicket victory against historic rivals Pakistan.
This win, on a memorable Sunday, nudged the defending champions to the brink of elimination from the prestigious Champions Trophy.
India, chasing a target of 242 for victory, witnessed Kohli’s masterful stroke play as he sealed the match with an elegant boundary, achieving victory with 45 balls to spare. This innings marked his phenomenal 51st ODI century and propelled him past the remarkable mark of 14,000 runs in one-day international cricket.
At 36, Kohli exuded sheer grace, removing his helmet and lifting his bat in salute to the roaring crowd at Dubai International Stadium, bringing India closer to the semi-finals with two consecutive victories in Group A.
Pakistan, having faced two defeats, desperately need Bangladesh to overcome New Zealand on Monday to keep their last-four spot hopes alive.
‘Our objective was clear – to stabilize the middle overs, avoid risky shots against spinners, and counterattack the fast bowlers,’ remarked Kohli. ‘I was satisfied with this approach as it aligns with my ODI style. I possess a good comprehension of my game.’
India, favorites to claim the tournament, portrayed absolute confidence in their chase despite losing captain Rohit Sharma for a mere 20 runs off the fiery Shaheen Shah Afridi.
In-form Shubman Gill, who followed up his previous century against Bangladesh with a solid 46, partnered with Kohli for an impressive 69-run stand.
The cricketing maestro, Kohli, commenced with caution, crossing the extraordinary milestone of 14,000 ODI runs with a signature punch through the covers off Haris Rauf. He joined the ranks of legends Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Kumar Sangakkara (14,234), becoming only the third player to achieve this feat.
Kohli, the former captain, electrified the crowd a second time as he reached his fifty with a boundary off Naseem Shah. His majestic hundred, achieved in 111 balls, evoked nostalgia by harking back to the prime of a veteran with 82 centuries across formats, with his last ODI hundred occurring in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final.