Sports Desk
23 February
Tv10 Punjab
Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 100 and Shreyas Iyer’s crucial 56, along with a strong bowling display, helped India defeat Pakistan by six wickets in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A clash. With this win, India has secured a spot in the semifinals, while hosts Pakistan are nearly eliminated.
Batting first, Pakistan managed to score 241 runs in 49.4 overs. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 62, while captain Mohammad Rizwan contributed 46. Khushdil Shah added 38 runs, but India’s bowlers kept things in control. Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets, while Hardik Pandya claimed two. Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Harshit Rana picked up one wicket each.
Chasing 242, India comfortably reached the target in 42.3 overs, scoring 244/4. Kohli played a brilliant knock of 100* off 111 balls, hitting 11 fours. This was his first century in the Champions Trophy and 51st in ODIs. Kohli also became the first batsman to score centuries against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, World Cup, and Champions Trophy. He reached 14,000 ODI runs and was named ‘Player of the Match.’
Shreyas Iyer supported with 56 off 67 balls, hitting five fours and a six. Shubman Gill added 46, while captain Rohit Sharma scored 20. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 8 and 3, respectively.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi took two wickets, while Abrar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah grabbed one each. Despite a steady start, Pakistan lost quick wickets in the middle overs, allowing India to gain control.
India will face New Zealand in their final group match on March 2.