Batter Virat Kohli delivered a masterclass performance, putting Pakistan on the brink of early Champions Trophy exit on Sunday. The star batter smashed an unbeaten 100 off 111 deliveries – his 51st ODI century – to guide India to a comfortable six wicket victory at Dubai International Stadium.
India chased 242-run target in 42.3 overs to confirm their spot in the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
Dubbed 'King Kohli', the star batsman crafted a match-defining 114-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer for the third wicket, shifting the momentum away from the defending champions.
With this defeat, Pakistan's fate now hinges on Bangladesh defeating New Zealand in Monday's match at Rawalpindi Stadium to keep their slim knockout hopes alive. If New Zealand wins, both Pakistan and Bangladesh will be eliminated from the tournament.
The former champions got off to a brisk start in their chase, as openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put together 31 runs off 29 deliveries. However, Pakistan struck early when Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled the Indian captain for 20.
India's star batter, Virat Kohli, then joined Gill at the crease and kept the innings steady with a 69-run partnership. Gill played a solid knock, scoring 46 off 52 balls, including six boundaries, before falling in the 18th over.
Kohli then built a match-winning 114-run stand with Shreyas Iyer, bringing India within touching distance of victory. Both batters reached their half-centuries during the partnership, displaying complete control over the game.
Pakistan managed to break the stand when Khushdil Shah dismissed Iyer, who contributed 56 off 67 balls with five fours and a six. Shaheen, who had earlier removed Rohit, struck again to dismiss Hardik Pandya for eight.
Despite the back-to-back setbacks, India remained unshaken, with Kohli ensuring a smooth finish to the chase, securing a comfortable victory.
Virat Kohli remained the top-scorer for India with an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, laced with seven boundaries.
For Pakistan, Shaheen picked up two wickets, while Abrar and Khushdil made one scalp apiece.
Opting to bat first, the hosts could accumulate 241 runs before getting bowled out in the final over despite an anchoring half-century by Saud Shakeel.
Earlier, Pakistan's new opening pair of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq got off to a decent start, with the former captain dominating the proceedings.
Hartik broke the opening stand, when Pakistan reached 41 by removing Babar Azam. Babar scored 23 off 26 deliveries, smashing five boundaries in the process.
Making his return to the national team, Imam could not convert a cautious start into a big knock as he was run out by Axar Patel in the next over, resulting in Pakistan slipping to 47/2 in 9.2 overs.
Following the consecutive blows, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud partnered to force recovery.
The pair batted sensibly to add an important 104 runs for the third wicket until Rizwan was cleaned up by Axar Patel in the 34th over.
The Pakistan captain mustered 46 runs from 77 balls with the help of three fours.
Pakistan's batting mainstay Saud followed suit just eight deliveries later, walking back after top-scoring with a 76-ball 62, made up of five fours.
Experienced Ravindra Jadeja then strengthened India's command by cleaning up Tayyab Tahir (four) and reduced Pakistan to 165/5 in 36.1 overs.
Pakistan vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah then forged a 35-run partnership to take their team's total to the 200-run mark but Kuldeep Yadav denied them a comeback by striking twice on consecutive deliveries. Khushdil then took the reins of Pakistan's batting expedition and scored 38 off 39 deliveries with the help of two fours.
He was also involved in brief partnerships with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who made 14 and eight respectively.
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking three wickets, followed by Pandya with two, while Harshit Rana, Jadeja and Patel made one scalp each.
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