Virat Kohli once again reminded the world of his unparalleled skill and relentless pursuit of runs in white-ball cricket, as he triumphed over a lean patch to score a remarkable century against arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Dubai International Stadium bore witness to a breathtaking display of run-chasing, with Kohli not only leading his team to victory but also setting multiple records. He surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the third-highest run-scorer in international cricket and joined the elite 14,000-run club in ODIs.
Fans watching live or on TV were undoubtedly filled with relief as Kohli finally found his rhythm at the crease. After a long struggle in 2024, where he often got frustrated by early dismissals and failed to settle in, the “King” made his presence felt with signature shots that only he can deliver. His earlier frustrations had seen him playing uncharacteristic shots—whether through rashness, as in the T20 World Cup, or due to technical issues like poking at deliveries outside the off-stump or succumbing to spin.
A fascinating statistic from CricViz, a cricket analytics platform, reveals a pattern in Kohli’s recent performances. Since the start of 2022, he has struggled in the first 30 balls of his ODI innings, averaging just 38.1 with a strike rate of 82. However, once he gets past this phase, his performance takes off. In the following 60 balls, his average jumps to 87.4, with a strike rate of 102. This underlines that Kohli’s innings either flourish or flounder—if he gets set, big scores are imminent.
Since 2022, Kohli has been one of the most consistent run-scorers in ODIs, ranking sixth with 1,916 runs in 45 matches at an average of 53.22 and a strike rate of 94.99, including eight centuries and 11 fifties. His highest score during this period is an unbeaten 166. As per Cricbuzz, Kohli has also earned five ‘Player of the Match’ awards in ICC tournaments against Pakistan, the most by any player in such encounters—his performances include scores of 78*, 107, 55*, 82*, and his latest 100* in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
In the highly anticipated India-Pakistan Champions Trophy clash, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. The opening partnership between Babar Azam (23 in 26 balls) and Fakhar Zaman put on 41 runs, but quick wickets left Pakistan at 47/2. A steady 104-run stand between captain Mohammad Rizwan (46 in 77 balls) and Saud Shakeel (62 in 76 balls) provided stability, though it consumed a lot of balls. After their partnership ended, Khushdil Shah’s quick 38 in 39 balls helped Pakistan post a total of 241 runs in 49.4 overs.
In reply, India lost captain Rohit Sharma early for 20 off 15 balls. However, a crucial 69-run partnership between Shubman Gill (46 off 52 balls) and Kohli (100* off 111 balls) put India on track, followed by a 114-run partnership between Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (56 off 67 balls). India comfortably chased down the target with four wickets in hand, finishing with 242 runs in 48.3 overs, securing the win with 45 balls to spare.