Champions Trophy 2025, India vs. Pakistan: On Sunday, February 23, a dominant India crushed a helpless Pakistan in a well-known pattern, with Virat Kohli scoring his 51st ODI century. Pakistan may have to leave the competition early.
It was correct, Atul Wassan! Ultimately, the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match was predictable, analogous to a Bollywood movie where Amitabh Bachchan is seen battling thugs without ever getting hit. India was a clear favorite going into the Champions Trophy high-stakes match, and they delivered, crushing Pakistan, who appeared helpless for the majority of the match, by six wickets on Sunday, February 23 in Dubai. Virat Kohli, the Sunday show’s star, was also a well-known figure. To guarantee that India made the chase of 242 seem easy, the former skipper scored his 51st century, dispelling doubters.
With 45 balls remaining, India chased down the target after restricting Pakistan to 241, which they were unable to reach in their allotted 50 overs. As India edged closer to a semi-final berth, Chase Master Virat Kohli was back to his best.
While India used artificial intelligence techniques to achieve brilliance, Pakistan seemed to be using Internet Explorer to look for answers. One of the Champions Trophy’s most anticipated matches was reduced to yet another yawn-fest due to the mismatch and quality disparity.
At this point, Pakistan could be eliminated as early as the group stage. They are at the bottom of the Champions Trophy Group A points table after suffering two straight losses.
A VIRAT KOHLI SPECIAL IN DUBAI
Pakistan might have hoped for a miracle after witnessing India’s precarious journey to 229 against Bangladesh on a similarly slow pitch on Thursday, but 241 was never going to be enough. However, Pakistan received a brutal reality check when their much-discussed pacers were taken to the cleaners and their lack of teeth in the spin department was shown.
Despite suffering from a hamstring injury, Rohit Sharma remained aggressive at the top, tearing at Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. For Pakistan to get past Rohit’s defense, Shaheen had to deliver a stunning yorker.
But vice-captain Shubman Gill maintained his royal demeanor. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Gill entertained the Indian fans by driving like Virat Kohlis and Sachin Tendulkar. The budding cricket star’s magnificent straight drive would have delighted even the people wearing green jerseys.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, was clear about his goals from away. He used a couple of old-fashioned cover drives to signal his presence. In contrast to the match against Bangladesh, Kohli did not falter in the middle overs. Kohli was occupied with finding the boundaries and switching up the strike on a frequent basis.
Despite worries about his performance against spin, Virat Kohli made sure he did not down the scoring rate even after leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed magically halted Shubman Gill’s symphony.
Champions are adept at hiding their shortcomings and making the most of any given circumstance. Kohli displayed greatness on Sunday, managing Abrar Ahmed with remarkable effectiveness. Until he danced down the track and reached his hundred in the last over of the contest, he failed to score a single boundary against spinners.
Rather, he destroyed the pacers, hitting players like Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen to the boundary on a regular basis.
“My task was obvious – to control the middle overs, not take risks against spinners and take on pacers. Since that’s how I play in ODIs, I was pleased with the template. I understand my game fairly well. It’s about controlling my thoughts, energy levels, and external noise. After his outstanding knock, Kohli remarked, “It’s easy for me to get pulled into expectations and frenzy around games like these.”
‘PAKISTAN BATTING IN STONE AGE’
The two innings that were played in Dubai seemed to be from separate eras. In the 50 overs they were given, Pakistan played 152 dot balls.
“This country’s cricket culture is stuck in the Stone Age,” joked an angry Pakistani fan on X, as their team’s scoreboard moved at a glacial speed.
On the other hand, even when the pitch slowed down without the nighttime dew in Dubai, India, led by Rohit Sharma’s aggression at the top, played with the Pakistani bowling attack.
Fans were transported back to the 1980s ODI era by captain Mohammad Rizwan’s arduous innings. It was captain Mohammad Rizwan’s turn to play an extremely cautious, agonizingly slow innings on the big stage, even if Babar Azam had scored a 90-ball 64 against New Zealand. Just when Babar had looked to attack in a welcome change of pace, Rizwan pulled the innings down.
In the first 20 overs, Pakistan faced 80 dot balls. The Pakistani supporters in Dubai were irritated by Rizwan’s startling consistency in identifying fielders. The story was told by the faces in the audience.
Rohit was pleased to perform the choke at the same moment. The Indian captain made matters easier with his quick bowler rotation and deft use of his spinners in the final overs.
To relieve some of the pressure, Rizwan danced along the track in the 34th over. Rather, he saw his stumps disturbed and missed a straight delivery from Axar Patel.
A 77-ball 46 ended the suffering, but Pakistan’s downfall had only begun. Pakistan fell from 151 for 2 to 201 for 7.
Rohit’s go-to man on Sunday, Hardik Pandya, deceived Saud Shakeel, who had to wait until the very end, by throwing his wicket away on 62 in the 35th over.
With a twin-wicket over that included the significant wicket of in-form Salman Ali Agha, Kuldeep Yadav, who has been bowling in the final overs, shocked Pakistan.
Tayyab Tahir was removed from the game by Ravindra Jadeja’s unplayable delivery.
For 260, Pakistan looked good. However, they did a Pakistan to wind up with 241, which ultimately proved insufficient.
If New Zealand defeats Bangladesh in their Group A encounter, Pakistan would be eliminated from the competition as early as Monday, the sixth Champions Trophy matchday.
