KOHLI SLAMS 100, INDIA BREEZE PAST PAKISTAN BY SIX WICKETS

Having lost the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand in Karachi, Mohammad Rizwan and co are in search of a win in their last group-stage game to keep their semi-finals hopes alive.

Pakistan v India, Champions Trophy 2025 scorecard

India's batting talisman, Virat Kohli produced yet another ODI classic as India aced a 242-run chase against Pakistan with six-wickets in hand in a high-stakes Champions Trophy encounter.

Coming in to bat after India went one down in the powerplay, Kohli knitted an unbeaten 100 off 111 deliveries to keep the momentum in his side's favor, bringing up his 51st ODI ton - most by anyone in the format.

The 36-year-old also crossed the 14,000 run-mark to become only the third batter to do so after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Kohli-Iyer put on a batting masterclass | PAK v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
 

Earlier, the defending champions were handed an early advantage when Shaheen Afridi rammed one onto Rohit Sharma's stumps to give Pakistan their opening breakthrough.

Having started off the chase on a positive note - bashing three fours and a six - Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was deceived by late movement from the left-armer before getting his stumps rattled in the poweplay.

Shaheen cleans up Rohit:

Shaheen cleans up Rohit | PAK v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
 

In-form batter Shubman Gill went on to pile 46 off 52 deliveries. India's centurion in the opener against Bangladesh took to counter-attacking, lacing seven boundaries during his stay.

Abrar Ahmed eventually got rid of the Indian opener as he snuck in an absolute ripper to produce a much-needed breakthrough. With Gill closing in on a half-century, Abrar deceived the right-hander with a leg-breaker that crashed into his off-stump.

Abrar beats Gill with an absolute seed:

Abrar beats Gill with an absolute seed | PAK v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
 

Kohli then, partnered alongside Shreyas Iyer after the loss of the two wickets, with the duo stitching together a 114-run stand. Iyer also brought up his half-century as India crossed the 200-run mark in the 37th over.

But just as Iyer was cruising to comfortably close out the game, Pakistan grabbed two wickets in quick succession.

Imam-ul-Haq latched onto a fine catch off Khushdil Shah to get rid of Shreyas Iyer (56). Incoming batter Hardik Pandya lasted only six deliveries before he nicked one behind to Mohammad Rizwan off Shaheen Afridi. Eventually, Kohli would see through the chase alongside Axar Patel with 45 deliveries in hand.

Kohli brings up 51st ODI ton to take India across the line:

Kohli brings up 51st ODI ton to take India across the line | PAK v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
 

Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav turned up the ante with the ball to lead India's push with the ball in the Champions Trophy heavyweight clash against Pakistan in Dubai.

The left-arm spinner snared Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi off successive deliveries before claiming Naseem Shah as India managed to dismiss Pakistan for 241.

Indian spinners run through Pakistan:

Requiring a win to keep their hopes of a semifinals spot alive, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first in Dubai.

Pakistan talisman Babar Azam displayed positive intent early on in his innings after Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first. The regal opener dispatched a couple of glorious boundaries to get Pakistan off to a good start.

With Harshit Rana steaming in during his opening burst, Babar flicked the Indian pacer through mid-wicket for his first boundary and followed it up with a textbook cover drive in the same over.

Babar up and running in style:

Babar up and running in style | PAK v IND | Champions Trophy 2025

Not too later though, Hardik Pandya provided India with their opening breakthrough to remove the former Pakistan captain. Chasing a delivery outside the off stump, Babar edged one behind to wicketkeeper KL Rahul, who safely pouched the catch.

The dismissal was quickly followed by another as Imam-ul-Haq (10) was run-out by a brilliant direct hit from Axar Patel in Kuldeep Yadav's first over.

Two wickets down in the powerplay, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan joined Saud Shakeel in the middle. Together, the duo forged a 104-run stand for the third wicket as Shakeel went on to notch his fourth ODI fifty.

Shakeel-Rizwan pull Pakistan back:

Shakeel-Rizwan help Pakistan fight back | PAK v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
 

But just as the Pakistan duo seemed on their way to a big first innings total, Axar Patel removed Pakistan skipper Rizwan with a flighted delivery that deceived the right-handed batter from round the wicket to hit the stumps.

Shortly afterwards, Hardik Pandya removed Saud Shakeel to nab his second wicket of the day.

Just as Pakistan were reeling off the twin blows, Ravindra Jadeja made it three wickets for India in four overs, cleaning up Tayyab Tahir to leave Pakistan trailing at 165/5.

Kuldeep Yadav then came into his own, snapping three wickets in his final spell. For Pakistan, Khushdil Shah (38) powered a final push in the lower order but was eventually dismissed by Harshit Rana as India managed to keep Pakistan just under 250 in Dubai.

Kuldeep spins a web around Pakistan:

Kuldeep spins a trap around Pakistan | PAK v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
 

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