India vs Pakistan: ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan showdown in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 came up to the anticipation as India secured a dominant six-wicket victory in Dubai. Under Virat Kohli’s undefeated century, India gently chased down Pakistan’s total of 241 to guarantee their spot in the semi-finals and left their arch-rivals barely surviving.
Match Summary
Pakistan: 241 all out (Shakeel 62, Kuldeep 3/40, Hardik 2/31)
India: 244/4 in 42.3 overs (Kohli 100*, Iyer 56, Afridi 2/74)
Result: India won by six wickets with 45 balls remaining
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (100* off 111 & 2 catches)
First Innings: Pakistan’s Struggle to Capitalize
Pakistan started steadily but failed to capitalize on their excellent platform. The highlight was Saud Shakeel’s skillful 62; unfortunately, his removal set off a fall from which Pakistan lost eight wickets for only 90 runs.
The bowlers from India carried out their strategies exactly. Kuldeep Yadav’s mysterious spin was unplayable, plucking up three key wickets in the late overs, while Hardik Pandya’s subtle variations shredded Pakistan’s middle order. Harshit Rana also played a significant role, making run-scoring tough for the lower order.
India’s Chase: The Virat Kohli Show
India stayed calm in their pursuit even with early losses. Shubman Gill’s strong start was cut short by Abrar Ahmed’s stunning delivery, but Kohli’s expertise ensured a smooth conclusion. Axar Patel cleverly slowed down to let Kohli complete his 51st ODI century, therefore marking yet another remarkable event in the India vs Pakistan rivalry as the game firmly under India’s control.
Shreyas Iyer performed a key supporting role with a calm 56, while Kohli’s performance was a masterpiece in pacing an ODI chase. His under pressure supremacy was evident in his clean strikes against Pakistan’s pacers, especially Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Key Turning Points
Kuldeep’s Magic: Three wickets in quick succession halted Pakistan’s momentum.
Hardik’s All-Round Brilliance: Key wickets at crucial stages and tight bowling.
Kohli’s Composure: A well-paced century to seal the victory.
Pakistan’s Collapse: From 151/2 to 241 all out, losing eight wickets cheaply.
What This Means for Both Teams
India’s victory not only clinched their semi-final berth but also added another chapter to their supremacy over Pakistan in ICC competitions. Conversely, Pakistan today depends on other outcomes to have any chance of being competitive.
Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest to 14,000 ODI Runs, Surpassing Sachin Tendulkar
Once the fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs), Indian cricket hero Virat Kohli has once more made history. He did this amazing feat against Pakistan in Dubai, exceeding the previous mark set by Sachin Tendulkar.
Once the fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs), Indian cricket hero Virat Kohli has once more made history. He did this amazing feat against Pakistan in Dubai, exceeding the previous mark set by Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli wasted no time in creating history because he entered the game needing just 15 runs to attain the milestone. While leading India’s pursuit of 242 runs, he played a brilliant innings, scoring a remarkable undefeated century—his 51st ODI hundred—to guide his team to victory. Kohli hit the winning runs in a dramatic conclusion, a brilliant cover drive for four off part-time spinner Khushdil Shah.
Kohli vs. Tendulkar: A Record in Perspective
Virat Kohli achieved 14,000 ODI runs in just 287 innings, smashing Sachin Tendulkar’s old mark of 350 innings. The other elite club batter, Kumar Sangakkara, amassed 378 innings to meet the mark. This indicates Kohli’s consistency and domination in contemporary cricket since he reached the milestone 63 innings faster than Tendulkar.
| Player | Innings to 14,000 Runs |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 287 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 350 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 378 |
Notably, Kohli also holds the record for being the fastest to every 1000-run milestone since surpassing 8,000 ODI runs in 2017.
Kohli’s Superior Batting Average & Efficiency
Kohli is not just breaking records—he is setting new standards of excellence. His current ODI average stands at over 57, significantly higher than Tendulkar (44.19) and Sangakkara (41.73) when they reached the same milestone.
Additionally, Kohli took only 14,984 balls to reach 14,000 runs, making him the fastest in terms of balls faced. In comparison:
- Tendulkar needed 16,292 balls
- Sangakkara took 17,789 balls
Unlike his predecessors, Kohli marked his milestone with a century in a winning cause, whereas both Tendulkar and Sangakkara scored their respective landmark hundreds in matches India and Sri Lanka lost.
An All-Time ODI Great in the Making
With 14,000 ODI runs, Kohli now ranks third among the highest run-scorers in ODI history, just behind:
- Sachin Tendulkar – 18,426 runs
- Kumar Sangakkara – 14,234 runs
- Virat Kohli – 14,085+ runs
At this pace, Kohli is on track to surpass Sangakkara soon, solidifying his status as one of the greatest ODI batters of all time.
Kumble on Kohli’s Mindset & Form
Cricket legend Anil Kumble, analyzing Kohli’s innings, highlighted the difference in his approach:
“The difference from his innings against Bangladesh to this one was striking. Against Bangladesh, he seemed a bit tentative, shadow batting after dot balls. But today, he looked composed, fully in control, and back to his natural game. The challenge of playing Pakistan and the electrifying crowd atmosphere definitely brought out the best in him. We saw Kohli in sublime touch.”
Kumble also acknowledged the immense pressure and expectations Kohli carries every time he steps onto the field:
“Virat is a massive player, and there’s always high expectation—not just from himself, but from the team and millions of fans. When that happens consistently, it can mentally weigh on you. But today, we saw a classic Kohli hundred, constructed with precision and confidence.”
Another Record: Most Catches for India in ODIs
Earlier in the match, Kohli also broke another record—most catches by an Indian fielder in ODIs. With 158 catches, he surpassed previous Indian fielders to claim the top spot in this category as well.
