IND vs PAK: Kohli’s 51st ODI Century Powers India to Victory in Champions Trophy

Dubai, February 23, 2025 – Virat Kohli once again proved why he is India's go-to man in high-stakes encounters, scoring a magnificent 100 off 111 balls to steer India to a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. With this triumph, India has nearly confirmed its place in the semi-finals.

Kohli’s Composed Masterclass

Coming into the match under pressure after struggling against spin in recent games, Kohli played a patient yet confident innings. He took his time to settle in, allowing Shubman Gill to dominate the powerplay. His first major breakthrough came in the 13th over, when he struck two sublime boundaries off Haris Rauf, surpassing 14,000 runs in ODIs.

Following Gill’s dismissal, Kohli built a crucial partnership with Shreyas Iyer, focusing on singles and rotating the strike against spinners. He reached his half-century in 62 balls, adopting a methodical approach before accelerating against Pakistan’s pace attack.

Breaking Records and Making History

During his innings, Kohli:

• Became the highest run-scorer in IND vs PAK Champions Trophy matches, surpassing Shoaib Malik.
• Overtook Ricky Ponting as the third-highest international run-scorer, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

A Perfect Finish

Despite India losing Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya, Kohli remained composed. In dramatic fashion, he reached his century on the final ball of the match, driving Khushdil Shah for a boundary to seal both his 51st ODI century and India’s victory.

Kohli's ability to deliver in pressure situations makes him an unstoppable force, especially against Pakistan in ICC tournaments.