Dubai, UAE – India continued its dominance over arch-rival Pakistan in ICC tournaments with a commanding six-wicket victory in their second Champions Trophy group-stage match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Star batter Virat Kohli delivered a masterclass, scoring a brilliant century to lead his team to a comfortable chase of Pakistan’s 241-run target with 7.3 overs to spare.
Pakistan, led by skipper Mohammad Rizwan, won the toss and opted to bat in the high-stakes clash, hoping to bounce back after their opening defeat against New Zealand.
However, their batting lineup struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj set the tone early, striking crucial blows to keep Pakistan in check.
Despite a fighting half-century from Fakhar Zaman (67 off 89 balls), Pakistan could only manage 240 runs before being bowled out in 48.5 overs.
In response, India’s chase was steered by the experienced Kohli, who silenced critics after a string of underwhelming performances with a magnificent 107 off 123 balls.
The 36-year-old, quick between the wickets and oozing confidence, reached his 48th ODI century, further cementing his status as one of the greatest one-day cricketers.
He also became just the third batsman in history to cross 14,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone with a signature drive through the covers off Haris Rauf.
Kohli found solid support in Shreyas Iyer, who played a composed knock of 57 off 63 balls, bringing up his 21st ODI half-century.
The duo stitched a crucial 102-run partnership that kept India in control throughout the chase. Axar Patel (22* off 16) and KL Rahul (18* off 12) finished the job, ensuring India remained unbeaten in the tournament.
India’s victory was celebrated in front of a packed 25,000-strong crowd in Dubai, where the tournament’s Group A matches featuring India are being held due to political tensions preventing the team from traveling to Pakistan.
The win also extended India’s dominance in ICC tournaments against Pakistan, with the Men in Blue winning seven of their last eight completed ODI encounters against their arch-rivals.
The defeat leaves defending champions Pakistan on the brink of elimination, with two consecutive losses making their semi-final qualification an uphill battle.
Rizwan admitted his side was outplayed, stating, “We fell short with the bat and needed a strong total against a team like India. They deserved to win today.”
With this victory, India moves closer to securing a semi-final spot, carrying their winning momentum into the next stage of the tournament.
As Kohli’s resurgence continues to inspire the team, India’s title hopes in the Champions Trophy 2025 remain strong.