The intense rivalry between India vs Pakistan took another exciting turn at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 held in Dubai. The match saw India clinching a convincing six-wicket win, a day not just remembered for the victory but also for Virat Kohli's astounding achievements on the field.

Virat Kohli Steals the Spotlight

Virat Kohli stood out as the hero of the day, scoring an unbeaten 100 runs off 111 balls. This century marked his 51st in One Day Internationals (ODI), bringing him into the spotlight for being the fastest to achieve 14,000 ODI runs. He also managed to break Mohammad Azharuddin's record for the most catches by an Indian in ODIs, emphasizing his all-round contribution to the team's success.

Kohli’s performance was not just about personal records. His clear strategy in controlling India's middle overs was crucial. As he reflected, 'My job was to control the middle overs... Clarity is important,' highlighting the importance of strategic batting and disciplined play.

Supporting Stars and Bowling Brilliance

While Kohli was the star, he certainly didn't do it alone. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer played significant roles, scoring 46 and 56 respectively. Their partnership helped lay a solid foundation for India. Iyer's crucial 114-run partnership with Kohli during the chase was instrumental in ensuring India met the target without much fuss.

On the bowling front, the spotlight turned to Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya, who proved to be game-changers for India. Kuldeep dismissed key players, presenting impressive figures of 3/43, while Pandya's 2/31 added pressure on Pakistan, making it difficult for them to recover from their middle-order collapse.

Despite a partnership of 104 runs between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan struggled to post a defendable score of 241, in large part due to the combined efforts of the Indian bowlers.

With this victory, India not only secured a top spot in Group A but also set the tone for their remainder of the campaign. Meanwhile, Pakistan now faces a steep climb to reach the next stage of the tournament.