IND vs PAK: Virat Kohli Leads India to a Memorable Victory, Wins 5th Player of the Match Award Against Pakistan
Pakistan, hosting an ICC tournament after 29 years, is on the verge of elimination, while Virat Kohli once again proved to be their biggest challenge. Kohli, known for his dominance over Pakistan in ICC tournaments, repeated history by securing a six-wicket victory for India with an unbeaten century. This stellar performance also propelled Team India into the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. Kohli clinched his fifth Player of the Match award in ICC tournaments, setting a record—no other player has won more than three against the same opponent in ICC events.
Suspense Over Kohli’s Century
India’s victory was inevitable, but the question remained—would Kohli reach his century? With just four runs needed to win, the tension was high. In Khushdil Shah’s over, Kohli took a single, followed by a run from Axar Patel. India now needed two runs for victory, while Kohli required four to complete his century. On the third ball, he elegantly drove a four through extra cover, sealing his 51st ODI century. His smile reflected relief, while millions of Indian fans erupted in joy. Overcoming previous struggles, Kohli showcased his classic form, dispelling doubts about his ability to play big innings.
India Secures Semi-Final Spot
With this victory, India topped Group A with four points and secured a semi-final berth. Kohli, overcoming a rough patch in form, delivered when it mattered most, scoring an unbeaten 111-ball hundred with seven fours. Shreyas Iyer supported him with 56 runs off 67 balls, helping India chase 242 in 42.3 overs. Meanwhile, Pakistan, struggling in the tournament, faced yet another setback as Kohli once again became their nightmare.
Fastest to 14,000 ODI Runs
In this innings, Kohli also became the fastest batsman to reach 14,000 ODI runs. Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, were ineffective against him, while leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed also found no success. Kohli and Iyer built a crucial 114-run partnership for the third wicket. Though Shreyas fell to a sharp catch by Imam-ul-Haq, the damage was already done, and Pakistan had no chance of a comeback.
Indian Bowlers Set Up Victory
India’s win was also credited to the bowlers, who restricted Pakistan to 241 runs. After choosing to bat, Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel played a crucial knock of 62 off 76 balls, forming a 104-run partnership with captain Mohammad Rizwan (46). However, apart from this stand, Pakistan failed to build any significant partnerships.
Clinical Bowling Performance
As the pitch slowed down in the middle overs, Indian bowlers maintained tight lines, making scoring difficult for Pakistan. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav took 3 wickets for 40 runs in nine overs, building pressure. At one point, Rizwan and Shakeel went 55 balls without hitting a boundary. Pakistan’s innings struggled after early losses, with Babar Azam (23) and Imam-ul-Haq (10) dismissed cheaply. Babar looked fluent initially, hitting some signature cover drives off Hardik Pandya, but was caught by KL Rahul after attempting another boundary.
Pakistan’s Struggles and Shami’s Injury Scare
Imam’s run-out added to Pakistan’s woes as Axar Patel’s direct hit sent him back. At 47/2, Rizwan and Shakeel tried to steady the innings, taking Pakistan to 151/2 in the 34th over. At this stage, a total of 270 seemed possible, but Axar broke their stand by dismissing Rizwan. After that, Pakistan’s innings crumbled, with Hardik Pandya dismissing Shakeel and Kuldeep taking two quick wickets.
During the match, India had a brief injury scare when Mohammed Shami and captain Rohit Sharma left the field—Rohit due to heat exhaustion and Shami with a calf issue. However, both returned, easing Indian fans’ concerns.
Despite Khushdil Shah’s 38 off 39 balls, Pakistan managed only 241 runs. This was never going to be enough against India’s strong batting lineup, and Kohli ensured a comfortable chase, once again proving why he thrives in high-pressure matches.
