Virat's magnificent Ton sets India Comfortable win- India vs Pakistan The ICC Champions Trophy 2025

 

    Photo: Axar Patel, Imam Ul Haq credit-ICC

The arch-rivals India and Pakistan met in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium today. It was a day and night game and both the teams were playing their 2nd match at their group stage. In the 1st match, Pakistan got a heavy defeat at the hands of New Zealand whereas India was coming into the match after an emphatic win against Bangladesh a few days ago.

Significance of this match

As all teams are set to play three matches at the group stage and both teams have already played one match so, this match was very important for both teams. Pakistan who lost earlier to New Zealand were heavily dependent on this match outcome as in the case of another loss their chances of early elimination from The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 would have increased significantly. Whereas India wanted to stamp their semi-final chances after overcoming their arch-rivals. 

Team News and Playing 11s

India selected the same playing 11 that had won the match against Bangladesh Whereas Pakistan went into the match with one change as Imam Ul Haq replaced the injured Fakhar Zaman.

1st Innings and Key Moments

Pakistan won the toss and they elected to bat 1st on the track that was looking quite slow. Pakistan openers started carefully and tried to get a good look at the surface before playing their shots. Babar Azam played some classy shots before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya. Soon after Babar's departure Imam ul Haq was also run out in an attempt to complete a suicidal run courtesy of a direct hit at the bowler's end by Axar Patel leaving Pakistan to 47/2 in 9.2 overs. 

Muhammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel decided to absorb the pressure of the big match and rebuild again. Both batters started carefully as Indian bowlers bowled beautiful lines and dried up the runs. Batters found it hard to score runs as the outfield was slow and the bowlers were giving nothing away. Pakistan's total crossed a hundred in the 25 overs. Although Indian bowlers were unable to get wickets they didn't let both batters take the game away from them. Pakistan too cautious approach didn't work a lot as Muhammad Rizwan departed in an attempt to up the scoring rate a bit. He scored 46 off 77 balls. Soon after his dismissal Saud Shakeel also departed after scoring well made 62 off 76 balls. Jadeja bowled Tayyab with a beauty to dent further Pakistan's progress as they were reduced to 165/5 in 36.2 overs. Salman Agha was also unable to contribute much as he departed at a team total of 200 in the 43rd over. Khushdil Shah hit a few lusty blows to take Pakistan's total to 241  as they were all out in the last over of the innings. A total that was looking below par at that time.

    Photo: KL Rahul and Saud Shakeel Credit-ICC

2nd Innings and Key Moments

While chasing a below-par total of 242 Indian openers started aggressively as Rohit Sharma hit few top-quality shots. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Rohit Sharma at the team's score of 30 in the 5th over with a top-in swinging yorker. Virat Kohli joined Shubman Gill in the middle as Gill decided to take charge of keeping the momentum and played some eye-catching shots. Pakistan bowlers were under a lot of pressure as it was a do-or-die match for them and they needed early wickets to get their side back into the contest. As the required rate was not too much both the batters took control of the match and played according to the situation. Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill took the team's total to 100 in just 18 overs. 

Abrar Ahmed got rid of Shubman Gill with a peach of a delivery to provide his team with a much-needed breakthrough. Shreyas Iyer joined Virat Kohli in the middle and both the batters started to build a partnership as the required rate was not threatening. Virat Kohli took his time but once he got set he played some top-quality shots and dominated the bowlers. As there were not many demons in the pitch and it was playing well both the batters went set and took the bowlers to the cleaners. 

Pakistan was a bowler short once again so Rizwan had to introduce Khushdil Shah a part-timer to cover up the overs of 5th bowler. Both the Indian batters knew that there was some purchase for the spinners so they played spinners carefully and took faster bowlers to the cleaners. Khushdil Shah dropped Shreyas Iyer as short mid-wicket which was the final nail in the coffin for Pakistan. As both the batters started scoring runs freely they completed their well-made fifties. Towards the end, Pakistan got the wickets of Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya but it was too late as the game was done and dusted.

Virat Kohli played a magnificent knock once again and scored his 51st ton in the ODI as India chased down the total of 242 comfortably in the 43rd over, and won the match quite comfortably by 6 wickets.

    Photo: Muhammad Rizwan and Virat Kohli Credit-ICC

Top Performers of the Match

1st Innings

• Saud Shakeel scored 62 off 76 balls
• Kuldeep Yadav got 3 wickets for  40 runs in 10 overs.
• Hardik Pandya got 2 for 31 in 8 overs.

2nd Innings

• Virat Kohli scored 100 off 111 balls
• Shreyas Iyer scored 56 of 67 balls.

Player of the match

Virat Kohli was awarded the Man of the Match award for his top-class hundred. He played another masterclass just when his team needed it. He used his experience and played the conditions perfectly. In the process, he has completed his 14000 runs in ODI. This is a great achievement for the veteran as he is now the fastest player to achieve this feat in the context of innings.

    Photo: Virat Kohli and Axar Patel credit -ICC

Where was the match lost?

Pakistan once again adopted a very cautious approach while batting. Earlier they played with Intent but once Babar and Imam got out Saud Shakeel and Rizwan did nt show any aggression or proper strike rotation. India is a batting powerhouse they have top-class batters down the order till almost no. 7. So, you have to set a good total on board to challenge the Indian batting lineup. Although Muhammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel built a good partnership they never tried to dominate the bowlers and take the game forward so as a result once they got out India roared back into the contest and reduced Pakistan to below par total which was always a challenge to defend against quality Indian side. 

What's next for both teams?

So, from now onwards it is quite the opposite journey for both teams. As India is sitting very comfortably at the top of the table whereas Pakistan is just on the brink of early elimination. Although mathematically still they are not eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 they know it's tough for them to qualify for the Semi-finals now after two back-to-back losses. Pakistan will play their last group match against Bangladesh on February 27, 2025, at The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Whereas India will have now a few day's rest before they will play New Zealand on March 0,3 2025.

    Photo: Hassan Ali, Muhammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, and other players credit-ICC

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