In a highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 group-stage encounter, India secured a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a modest total of 241 runs, with Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46) providing the most notable contributions. However, India’s disciplined bowling attack, spearheaded by Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive figures of 3-40, kept Pakistan’s batting lineup in check.
In response, India faced early pressure but found stability through a match-winning century from Virat Kohli. The star batter remained unbeaten on 100, marking his 51st ODI century and surpassing the 14,000-run milestone in One-Day Internationals faster than any player in history. Kohli’s masterclass, supported by Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who contributed 56 runs, helped India comfortably chase down the target with 7.3 overs to spare.
This victory places India at the top of Group A with two consecutive wins, virtually guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Pakistan, having suffered two back-to-back defeats, now faces the brink of elimination.
India will next face New Zealand in their final group-stage match, while Pakistan will need a miraculous turnaround to keep their tournament hopes alive.
