ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Virat Kohli showcases his chasing prowess against Pakistan. Let's take a deep dive into his match-winning century.
Just as Australia batter Travis Head has been a thorn in India’s side in recent times, Virat Kohli has been doing the same to Pakistan. Whenever the arch-rivals meet, Kohli brings out his A-game and ensures India gets over the line.
His unbeaten 122 in the 2023 Asia Cup and the iconic 82* in the 2022 T20 World Cup are some of his recent memorable knocks against Pakistan across formats. Now, he has added another one to the list with his unbeaten 100 against Pakistan in the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy.
A special hundred
This knock is particularly special as it comes amid a string of low scores and growing questions about Kohli’s relevance and place in the squad. His repeated dismissals to leg-spinners in recent ODIs had also raised doubts about whether he was past his prime. However, Kohli put all of that behind him and delivered a memorable century against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, guiding India to the semi-finals.
"It's about keeping the outside noise away… My job was clear – to control the middle overs, not take risks against spinners, and take on the pacers," Kohli said about his knock against Pakistan.
True to this approach, Kohli stuck to the template, ensuring he remained unbeaten to see India through to victory. For the record, he has now scored a remarkable 24 centuries in successful ODI chases. Read More: CT 2025, PAK vs IND, Group A: Kohli delivers 51st hundred; India a step closer to SF spot
Great start
Virat Kohli ensured he didn’t take long to get off the mark, striking a few of his trademark cover drives—both to deliveries pitched up and those rising off the surface. Recent discussions about his declining effectiveness with the cover drive, especially after his repeated dismissals playing this shot during the Test series against Australia Down Under, were put to rest. He also made a conscious effort to avoid undue risks against spinners, who have troubled him in recent times.
Reliance on singles & doubles
Later, as the pitch began to slow down, Kohli didn’t try to force the pace. Instead, he focused on rotating the strike, running hard for ones and twos, and keeping the chase on track. He allowed Shreyas Iyer to take charge and maintain the run rate with his big hits. The veteran batter was content playing second fiddle while Iyer was going strong at the other end.
Stepping on the gas at the right time
As the result became a foregone conclusion and Pakistan’s shoulders began to drop, Kohli capitalised by striking a few quick boundaries to inch closer to his century. However, at no point did he seem in a hurry to reach the milestone or play for personal records. In fact, he was visibly livid at Axar Patel for not running a second, as the latter attempted to give his senior partner enough runs to complete his ton. This moment underscored Kohli’s unwavering commitment to the team’s cause.
By then, the crowd had shifted its focus from India’s victory to Kohli’s century, cheering him on for yet another landmark. However, Kohli remained composed, and when the opportunity arose, he struck a boundary to bring up his century and seal India’s win. He then gestured to the dressing room to settle down, as even his teammates were eagerly anticipating the special hundred.
"It's easy for me to get pulled into expectations and the frenzy around games like these," Kohli reflected after the match, adding, "I have a decent understanding of my game."
And with that, the vintage Kohli was back—scoring centuries and winning matches for India.
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