DUBAI: A masterful century from Virat Kohli, coupled with disciplined bowling, propelled India to a convincing six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a crucial Champions Trophy 2025 match at the Dubai International Stadium yesterday.

India chased down a modest 242 with a loss of four wickets and 45 deliveries to spare. They got off to a flying start, managing to score 64 runs in the powerplay despite losing captain Rohit Sharma. Dangerous-looking Rohit Sharma was clean bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi as he departed after scoring 15-ball 20, hitting three fours and a six. When India were 31-1 in five overs, Virat Kohli joined Shubman Gill, the No. 1 ODI batter in ICC ranking, and the duo provided stability to the chase.  Pakistan’s fielding also led them down as Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill were dropped in two successive deliveries, allowing the pair to add 69 runs for the second wicket.

India already reached to 100-run mark when Abrar Ahmed provided Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough, dismissing Shubman Gill. The spinner got rid of the set batter with a perfect carom-ball, leaving India 100-2 in the 18th over. Shubman Gill scored 46 off 52 balls, hitting seven fours. Sheryas Iyer joined veteran Virat Kohli, who completed his 14,000 ODI runs in the match, and they continued to trouble the Pakistani bowling.

Pakistan’s fielding struggles persisted as Sheryas Iyer was also given a chance by Saud Shakeel who dropped a catch at short mid-wicket. Virat Kohli and Sheryas Iyer completely took the game away from Pakistan with their 114-run partnership for the third wicket. Pakistan got two quick wickets but it was too little too late for them as Sheryas Iyer was finally dismissed by Khusdil Shah followed by Hardik Pandya’s. Sheryas Iyer struck 56 runs studded with seven fours and a six while Hardik Pandya could only manage to score 8. Virat Kohli remained unbeaten with 100 runs as smashed  seven fours. Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets for 74 runs in his 8 overs. For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed was the only the positive as finished with figures 1-28 in his 10 overs.

Khushdil Shah also picked a wicket for 43 runs. Earlier, Saud Shakeel scored a fifty as Pakistan set a 242-run target for India. Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq opened the inning for Pakistan and looked solid as they shared an opening stand of 41 in 8.1 overs. However, Babar Azam was undone by Hardik Pandya through an edge to the wicketkeeping after scoring 23 off 26 balls. His opening partner Imam-ul-Haq returned to the dressing room in the very next over on the back of a brilliant direct hit from Axar Patel at the non-striker’s end. He departed after scoring 10 off 26 balls as the scoreboard showed 47/2 in 9.2 overs in the blockbuster IND vs PAK clash. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and batter Saud Shakeel then joined hands to stabilise Pakistan’s inning in the do-or-die game of the Champions Trophy 2025. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowler for India, taking three wickets while Hardik Pandya took two wickets.

Harshit Rana, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each in the game. India have started their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on a high after defeating Bangladesh in their opening game. Pakistan, however, got off to a dismal start as they lost the tournament opener to New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.