Kohli hits ton as India push Pakistan to brink of Champions Trophy exit
Star batsman Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 100 to lead India to a six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday and push the title holders to the brink of elimination from the Champions Trophy.
Chasing 242 for victory, Kohli hit a boundary to seal the match with 45 balls to spare and register his 51st ODI ton after an innings which also saw him pass 14,000 runs in one-day international cricket.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Kohli, 36, removed his helmet and raised his bat to the Dubai International Stadium crowd after taking India closer to the semi-finals with two wins in two outings in Group A.
Pakistan have lost both their matches and will need Bangladesh to beat New Zealand on Monday to have any chance of staying in contention for a last-four spot.
The top two teams from the two groups will make the semi-finals.
"My job was clear -- to control the middle overs, not take risks against the spinners and take on the pacers," said Kohli.
"I was happy with the template, it's how I play in ODIs. I have a decent understanding of my game.
"It's about keeping the outside noise away, take care of my energy levels and thoughts. It's easy for me to get pulled into expectations and frenzy around games like these."
Favourites India remained clinical in their chase despite losing skipper Rohit Sharma for 20 off Shaheen Shah Afridi.
In-form Shubman Gill, who made 46 after his century in the opening win over Bangladesh, put on 69 runs with Kohli.
India superstar Kohli started cautiously but reached 14,000 ODI runs with a trademark punch through cover off Haris Rauf.
He is just the third man to break the 14,000-run barrier after India icon Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (14,234)
Former captain Kohli raised his fifty with a boundary off Naseem Shah to loud cheers from the crowd.
His hundred came in 111 balls, a knock that rolled back the years for the veteran who has 82 centuries across all formats but whose previous ODI ton came in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final.
'Bad shot selection'
Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, who made 56, put the chase back on track with a stand of 114 after Gill's departure when leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed bowled the opener.
India bowled out Pakistan for 241 in 49.4 overs as left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 3-40.
Pakistan elected to bat first on what seemed a sluggish pitch but a slow approach from the batsman rarely threatened the Indian attack despite a 104-run partnership between Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46).
Khushdil Shah's late cameo of 38 added some runs to the total before the innings folded with his wicket.
The Pakistan openers began cautiously despite a wayward start by Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami who bowled five wides in an 11-ball first over.
Shami, who returned figures of 5-53 in the win over Bangladesh, seemed to struggle with his ankle in his third over and left the field, returning soon after to India's great relief.
Babar Azam score 23 and fellow opener Imam-ul-Haq was run out on 10 before Shakeel and Rizwan got their heads down as Pakistan managed just one boundary in nearly 10 overs.
"When Saud and I were batting, we wanted to go deep. But our shot selection was bad and we lost wickets, which is why we were kept to 240," said Rizwan.
A full house was expected at the venue but there were empty seats on view during the match.
Pakistan next face Bangladesh on Thursday in Rawalpindi while India take on New Zealand in Dubai on March 2.
Kohli blasts fifty, India on course to 242
India's batting talisman Virat Kohli notched a patiently build half-century as India progressed towards 242 set by Pakistan in a Champions Trophy high-stakes encounter.
Coming in to bat after India went one down in the powerplay, Kohli knitted a 61-ball-fifty to keep the momentum in India's favor. The 36-year-old also crossed the 14,000 run-mark to become only the third batter to do so after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
Earlier, the defending champions were handed an early advantage when Shaheen Shah Afridi rammed one onto Rohit Sharma's stumps to give Pakistan their opening breakthrough.
Having started off the chase on a positive note - bashing three fours and a six - Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was deceived by late movement from the left-armer before getting his stumps rattled in the poweplay.
In-form batter Shubman Gill then piled on 46 off 52 deliveries. India's centurion in the opener against Bangladesh took to counter-attacking, lacing seven boundaries during his stay.
Abrar Ahmed eventually got rid of the Indian opener as he snuck in an absolute ripper to produce a much-needed breakthrough. With Gill closing in on a half-century, Abrar deceived the right-hander with a leg-breaker that crashed into his off-stump.
Pakistan all out for 241 against India
Saud Shakeel and skipper Mohammad Rizwan hit gritty knocks to help Pakistan to 241 all out against arch-rivals India in a key Champions Trophy clash on Sunday in Dubai.
Defending champions Pakistan elected to bat first in the Group A match which is a 'must-win' for them after they lost to New Zealand in the 50-over tournament opener on Wednesday.
A defeat to India, who won their first match against Bangladesh, will severely dent Pakistan's chances of making the semi-finals.
They stuttered after the left-handed Shakeel, who hit 62, and Rizwan, who made 46, added 104 together in a slow but solid third-wicket partnership.
But a late cameo by left-hander Khushdil Shah boosted the Pakistan total on what seems like a sluggish pitch.
Khushdil was the last batsman out for 38 as the innings folded on 49.4 overs.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 3-40.
India refused to tour hosts Pakistan in the eight-nation tournament and instead have been allowed to play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium.
A full house was expected but there were empty seats on view during the Pakistan innings.
The Pakistan openers began cautiously despite a wayward start by Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami who bowled five wides in an 11-ball first over.
Babar Azam hit Harshit Rana for two boundaries in the fourth over with the second hit coming off a classic cover drive from the former captain.
Shami, who has recovered from an injury and returned figures of 5-53 in the team's first win over Bangladesh, seemed to struggle with his ankle in his third over and left the field, returning soon after to India's great relief.
Azam hit a couple of crisp boundaries including one off Hardik Pandya but the bowler had his revenge when he got the star batsman caught behind for 23.
Fellow opener Imam-ul-Haq was run out in the next over after a direct throw from Axar Patel had him out for 10.
Shakeel and Rizwan got their heads down as Pakistan managed just one boundary in nearly 10 overs.
Rizwan broke the shackles with a crashing four off Ravindra Jadeja and the left-handed Saud followed it up with two more off Kuldeep as the pair changed gears.
Rizwan survived a reprieve on 44 when Rana dropped a difficult catch at long-on off Pandya but the fielder looked relieved when Axar bowled the Pakistan captain in the next over.
Shakeel, dropped on 57, went in the next over from Pandya, holing out to midwicket.
Wickets kept tumbling with Kuldeep striking twice in two balls. Khushdil, however, showed intent with two sixes in his 39-ball knock and gave Pakistan a hope of winning against their greatest rivals.
The top two teams from the two groups will make the semi-finals.
Pakistan in trouble as Rizwan, Shakeel depart
Pakistan were in trouble following the dismissals of Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel in their high-voltage ICC Champions Trophy group-stage fixture against India in Dubai on Sunday.
The duo put together a 104-run stand after losing both the openers inside the Powerplay. Rizwan (46 runs off 77 balls) played the anchor role before he was yorked by Axar Patel in the 34th over. This led to the loss of a flurry of wickets as Shakeel, who looked good for his 76-ball 62, departed in the following over.
At the start of the 37th over, Tayyab Tahir (four off six balls) got castled by Ravindra Jadeja which reduced Pakistan to five down for 165.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav got in on the act by removing Salman Agha (19 runs off 24 balls) and then doubled down on the Pakistan batting lineup by dismissing Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in the 43rd and 47th overs, respectively, to reduce the men in green to 222-8.
Rizwan-Shakeel help Pakistan past 100 after early strikes from India
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan joined Saud Shakeel in the middle after Pakistan lost both openers in the powerplay against arch-rivals in a crucial Champions Trophy encounter in Dubai. The duo stitched together a 50-plus partnership to take the score past the 100-run mark at the halfway stage.
Earlier, Hardik Pandya had provided India with their opening breakthrough as Babar Azam (23) returned to the dressing room in the powerplay. Chasing a delivery outside the off stump, Babar edged one behind to wicketkeeper KL Rahul, who safely pouched the catch.
The dismissal was quickly followed by another as Imam-ul-Haq (10) was run-out by a brilliant direct hit from Axar Patel in Kuldeep Yadav's first over.
India snare Pakistan openers in blockbuster clash
Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam fell in the batting powerplay as India made a comeback following a slow start in the much-anticipated Champions Trophy clash.
Hardik Pandya provided India with their opening breakthrough as Babar Azam returned to the dressing room for 23 in the powerplay. Chasing a delivery outside the off stump, Babar edged one behind to wicketkeeper KL Rahul, who safely pouched the catch. The dismissal was quickly followed by another as Imam-ul-Haq was run-out by Axar Patel in Kuldeep Yadav's first over.
Earlier, Pakistan talisman Babar Azam had displayed positive intent with bat after Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first. The regal opener dispatched a couple of glorious boundaries as Pakistan opened their account in a blockbuster Champions Trophy contest against India in Dubai.
With Harshit Rana steaming in during his opening burst, Babar flicked the Indian pacer through mid-wicket for his first boundary and followed it up with a textbook cover drive in the same over.
Pakistan opt to bat against India in blockbuster Champions Trophy clash
Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first against India in their blockbuster Group A clash of the ICC Champions Trophy clash at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
This is a must-win game for the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, who started their campaign with a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in Karachi. India, on the other hand, are in a much better position, having overcome Bangladesh with a five-wicket win in Dubai.
Pitch Report
The pitch report, conducted by Ian Bishop and Sunil Gavaskar, said: "We are two pitches over from that game where India played Bangladesh. Overcast conditions - absolutely fine - about 31 degrees Celsius. Dimensions - 70m square either side, 81m down the ground. What we can expect is pretty similar to what we saw a couple of days ago. That time the pitch was on the slower side. The spinners kept it quiet in the middle overs. Whichever team that bowls well will be able to contain the batters. This is a pitch where it won't be easy to hit sixes. A score of about 270 should be a score you could defend."
TEAMS:
Pakistan have a forced change for this match. Fakhr Zaman, the hero of the Champions Trophy final from eight years ago, has been ruled out of the tournament and his place is taken by Imam-ul-Huq. India, meanwhile, go with the same side.
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Highlights
1. In their overall ODI head-to-head record, India and Pakistan have clashed 135 times. Pakistan has won 73 matches, while India has secured 57 victories. Five matches have ended with no result.
2. Since 2010, India have won 12 out of 17 ODIs against Pakistan. They are currently on a six-match unbeaten streak since 2018.
3. In the Champions Trophy, Pakistan lead the head-to-head record with three wins to India's two.
4. The last meeting in the Champions Trophy saw Pakistan defeat India by 180 runs, securing their first title.
5. At Dubai International Stadium, India hold the edge over Pakistan with three wins in five encounters.
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