India Vs Pakistan Match Highlights
Kohli once again inscribed his name on the cricketing history wall books when he scored his 82nd international century in a must-win face-off against Pakistan during the fifth match of Group A in the ICC Champions Trophy. It was simply monumental in that India chased down a target of 241 with a decisive six-wicket win. Kohli’s unbeaten 100 off 111 balls became the very foundation for a victory that resounded in the halls of cricketing. In facing arch-rivals in a tournament setting with a high-pressure crowd, Kohli gave a masterclass that blended tenacity, precision, and insatiable hunger for runs, underlining himself again as one of the greats of the game.
Pakistan had set an impressive 241 all out in 49.4 overs, built largely by 62 runs from Saud Shakeel and another 46 runs from Mohd. Rizwan, while India’s bowlers, spearheaded by Kuldeep Yadav with 4 for 30, made sure to keep that total reachable. With the start of India’s chase, the pressure was tested-seamed by Pakistan’s pacers led by Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Rohit Sharma began the Indian charge in fast mode with 20, but was the victim of Afridi’s fast delivery in the fifth over, walking in Kohli with a score of 31 for 1. What followed was a dazzling exhibition of batting that altered the course and squashed the hopes of the Pakistanis.
Kohli opened cautiously, gauging the conditions and giving respect to Pakistan’s bowling quality. While Shubman Gill struck freely in his 46 off 52 balls and benefited from a partnership of 69 that steadied the innings. Soon, India were comfortably placed at 100 for 2 by the time Gill fell to 17th over on the guile of Abrar Ahmed and it was then Kohli’s responsibility to shepherd the team.
His entrance alongside Shreyas Iyer saw a change in gears as they intermixed middling singles and accelerating boundaries together. The two combined to put on 114 runs, with Iyer contributing an accomplished 56 off 67 balls before going back in the 38th over, caught off Khushdil Shah himself. But not Kohli, steady and composed in his mood, roamed about the Pakistan bowling though in a guru’s manner of sorts.
That was a stunning century reached in the 41st over with a souverain cover drive off Naseem Shah, a shot to justify his technical proficiency and calm temperament. His able assistance of 100 included 11 fours and an enormous six blasted off Haris Rauf into the Dubai bleachers, causing the Indian section in the crowd to erupt with a deafening cheer.
Every run illustrated his flexibility he cushioned the swing of Shaheen with soft hands, punished Abrar’s turning rate with nimble footwork, and finished of unpunished deliveries from Rauf and Khushdil with clinical precision. By the time Hardik Pandya fell for just 8, and India at 223 for 4, the chase became a formality. Axar Patel, in his 3 stayed there at the non-striker’s end watching Kohli steer India home to victory by 244 for 4 in 42.3 overs with more than seven overs to spare.
Batting first, owing to a win toss, Pakistan scored a competitive total of 241-all out in 49.4 overs on a pitch that seemed to do something for batters and bowlers alike. The innings started very carefully, as Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam were tasked with laying down a solid foundation.
The ball, however, got India off to a great start when Hardik Pandya dismissed Babar after 23 runs, edging a catch to K.L. Rahul in the eighth over. The run-out of Imam-ul-Haq for a torn 10 off 26 balls followed shortly after, leaving the team at 47 for 2. Then, from batsmen sending the good balls around and capitalizing on Indians’ lapses, a middle order induced Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan to pair up a good partnership of 104 runs each and composed the innings under some pressure.
Shakeel’s splendid 62 was off 76 balls, his innings interspersed with some beautiful drives and the rest sheer will. Rizwan-the captain-wicketkeeper scored a calm 46 off 77 balls. Their stand inched Pakistan to stability, but Axar Patel claimed his man, as the resistant Rizwan was bowled attempting a sweep, causing a minor collapse.
From 151 for 3, Pakistan collapsed to 165 for 5, as Tayyab Tahir was stumped for just a mere 4 off Ravindra Jadeja’s spin. Agha Salman and Khushdil Shah resisted well. Agha made a quick 19 and Khushdil was explosive with his 38 runs from 39 deliveries, including a flurry of boundaries. However, the Indian bowlers under Kuldeep Yadav tightened the screw. Kuldeep’s haul of 4 for 30 in 9 overs turned the game; dismissal of Salman, Shaheen, and Naseem Shah ensued in succession.
There were fireworks towards the end as Haris Rauf played to the point of contributing quick runs, and then the end of Khushdil off Harshit Rana sealed the deal for Pakistan at 241. The attack from India was quite disciplined: Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel picking two wickets apiece, and Mohammed Shami and Jadeja keeping the score in check in the middle.
Going after 242, India came up with an aggressive start through Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, basically taking on Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Captain Rohit blasted his way to mourning 20 off 15, including three boundaries, before bowled out by Afridi through a searing yorker in the fifth over.
Gill donned on a generous 46 off 52, with Kohli helping India move past the 100 mark. Abrar Ahmed, a mystery spinner, pulled the stumps down on Gill’s wicket in the 17th over. Yet again, Kohli remained unperturbed, acting as the team’s balm during this chase with an unwavering attitude. Shreyas Iyer joined him, and together, they put up a monumental 114-run stand which almost sealed the game. Although Iyer scored 56 runs running the whole 67 balls with caution and aggression, he fell victim to Khushdil Shah in the 38th over off Imam-ul-Haq’s catch.
Kohli, of course, was the star of the day. With an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, he registered his 82nd international century, a knock embroidered with 11 fours and a single six. His knack for rotating the strike and punishing errant deliveries kept India comfortably ahead of the asking rate, even as some efforts from Pakistan’s bowlers to come from behind.
Hardik Pandya came in to score a quickfire 8 before losing out to Shaheen, but by then, the target was easily within grasp. Axar Patel, not out on 3, accompanied Kohli as India crossed the finish line at 244 for 4 in 42.3 overs with more than 7 overs to spare. Shaheen Afridi was the standout bowler for Pakistan with 2 for 74, while the rest, including Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, offered no real threat to India, with Abrar Ahmed’s figure of 1 for 28 being an indicator of his talent without much in the way of a ‘result’.
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