India chased down Pakistan’s total of 241 runs with ease, winning by 6 wickets in the second match of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday. The win not only avenged India’s 180-run defeat to Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy final but also saw Virat Kohli reach a historic 51st ODI century, cementing his place as the third-highest run-scorer in international cricket.
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Kohli’s Knock Anchors India’s Chase
Pakistan set a modest total of 241 runs, but India, led by Kohli’s brilliant unbeaten 100, comfortably reached the target in just 42.3 overs. Kohli, who came in after the early dismissal of Rohit Sharma, anchored India’s chase with a composed knock of 100 runs off 111 balls. His milestone century came at a crucial time, holding the innings together after some early jitters. Alongside him, Shreyas Iyer contributed a steady 56 runs, while Subhuman Gill added 46, ensuring India stayed on track to seal the win.
Kuldeep Shines with the Ball
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking 3 wickets, including key dismissals in the death overs. He removed Pakistan’s big-hitters Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah, effectively stalling their efforts to accelerate in the final stages of their innings. With a disciplined bowling performance, Kuldeep helped India keep Pakistan’s total within reach.
Pakistan’s Struggles: Slow Start and Lack of Spin Options
Despite a steady start from Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46), Pakistan’s batting fell short due to a slow middle phase. After losing two wickets in the powerplay, Pakistan could only muster 131 runs from 180 balls between the 11th and 40th overs. Rizwan and Shakeel formed a partnership of 104 runs from 144 balls, but their slow progress left Pakistan short of a competitive total.
Moreover, Pakistan’s decision to play just one full-time spinner, Abrar Ahmed, backfired. While Ahmed took 1 wicket for 28 runs in 10 overs, the lack of support from other spinners proved costly. The absence of leg-spinner all-rounder Shadab Khan in the playing XI further limited Pakistan’s bowling options.
Kohli Breaks Records, Becomes Third-Highest Run-Scorer
Kohli’s performance was also a milestone achievement in his career. He became the fastest to 14,000 ODI runs, reaching the landmark with his 15th run of the match. With this knock, Kohli surpassed Australia’s Ricky Ponting (27,483 runs) to become the third-highest run-scorer in international cricket, further cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest.
India’s victory in this Champions Trophy encounter was a well-rounded performance, with key contributions from both bat and ball. Kohli’s match-winning century and Kuldeep’s vital breakthroughs ensured that India comfortably chased down Pakistan’s total. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s slow batting and limited spin attack ultimately cost them the match, leaving them with much to improve for the rest of the tournament.
