India outclassed Pakistan in a high-stakes Champions Trophy clash, securing a commanding 6-wicket victory, thanks to a magnificent century by Virat Kohli.

Chasing 242, India reached the target in just 43 overs, losing only four wickets along the way.

Pakistan struggled to post a competitive total, getting bowled out for 241 runs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Saud Shakeel (62) put up some resistance but lacked support from the rest of the batting lineup. Babar Azam (23) and Imam-ul-Haq once again failed to deliver on a big stage.

India got off to a solid start and comfortably chased the target, thanks to Kohli’s masterclass with the bat. The former captain led from the front, punishing Pakistan’s bowlers and ensuring India’s dominance.

Rohit Sharma was the first to depart, bowled by Shaheen Afridi after scoring 20 off 15 balls, which included one six and three fours. Shubman Gill followed, making a solid 46 before getting bowled by Abrar Ahmed.

Shreyas Iyer contributed with a crucial 56 before being caught off Khushdil Shah’s bowling.

Hardik Pandya fell for just 8, caught off Shaheen Afridi.

Pakistan’s fielding woes continued, as they dropped two crucial catches.

Kohli completes 14,000 ODI runs

During his innings, Virat Kohli achieved yet another milestone by completing 14,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He becomes only the third player in history to reach this landmark, joining legends Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Pakistan’s Batting collapse

Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first but struggled throughout their innings. Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq started cautiously, taking the score to just 26 in six overs. The first two wickets fell at 47, with Babar scoring 23 and Imam getting run out due to poor judgment.

Rizwan and Saud Shakeel steadied the innings with a 104-run partnership, but once they departed, Pakistan’s batting collapsed. Tayyab Tahir (4), Agha Salman (19), and Shaheen Afridi (0) failed to contribute.

Naseem Shah managed only 14 runs, while Khushdil Shah played a responsible knock of 38, helping Pakistan reach 241 in 49.4 overs.

Indian bowling

Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 40 runs.

Hardik Pandya picked up 2, while Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, and Axar Patel claimed one each.

Mohammad Shami had an inconsistent start, conceding five wides in his opening over.

Babar Azam’s milestone

Despite Pakistan’s defeat, Babar Azam completed 1,000 runs in ICC ODI tournaments, joining an elite list of batsmen.

However, this loss could spell disaster for Pakistan, as an early exit from the Champions Trophy now seems likely.

India’s clinical performance reaffirmed their dominance, with Kohli’s century proving to be the decisive factor in yet another high-voltage encounter between the two cricketing giants.

Rizwan after winning the toss

“It is a good wicket and does not matter how it plays. We just want to post a good total,” Pakistan’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan said after winning the toss.

“Every match is important in the ICC events and we hope that the boys do well this time,” he said and added that the Green Shirts were aware of the conditions.

When asked, he said that Sunday was a new day and that whatever happened in the last game was in the past. He added that Imamul Haq has replaced Fakhar Zaman for the match.

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma said that the toss result did not matter as they wanted to bowl. He added that the wicket looked similar to what they played in their last game against Bangladesh.

“The guys in the batting lineup are experienced and this is a great opportunity to do what we do best and give our best as a team,” he said and mentioned that the run chase was not easy last time. Sharma added that they were playing with the same team.

Teams

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav.

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

‘Three specialists’ fast bowlers

“We have three specialists and I would say one of the best pace bowling options in today’s game with Shaheen, Naseem and Haris,” Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed told reporters in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

In the match against New Zealand, Pakistan’s fast bowlers—Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf—struggled significantly, conceding a total of 214 runs across 30 overs, contributing to New Zealand’s formidable total of 320 runs.

Javed, the former seam bowler, has expressed that the current Pakistani bowling lineup evokes memories of the legendary 1990s trio of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Aaqib himself, who rose to prominence after Imran Khan’s retirement.

“They still have time to reach that level, but they possess the talent to replicate those memorable performances,” Aaqib said.

While reflecting on the upcoming match against India, he noted, “Playing against India brings a unique thrill, and I believe our bowlers will deliver something extraordinary tomorrow.”

Aaqib emphasized the strength of Pakistan’s fast bowling options, stating, “They are capable match-winners.”

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Meanwhile, India vice-captain Shubman Gill said the match against Pakistan was business as usual for the team.

TV ratings skyrocket when cricketing giants India and Pakistan face off, drawing millions of viewers and generating substantial revenue for broadcasters.

In such high-stakes matches, streets across both nations become eerily quiet as fans immerse themselves in the action. Commenting on the palpable excitement, cricket analyst Gill noted the undeniable enthusiasm among supporters.

The last encounter between the two rivals took place during the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, where India triumphed over Pakistan by seven wickets.