Dubai: On February 23, 2025, Dubai International Cricket Stadium witnessed the historic rivalry between Indian and Pakistani cricket teams. This electrifying clash was won by India, and King Kohli’s brilliance and unbeaten century led to the victory for his team, which put Pakistan’s title defense at risk. This victory enhanced the chances of the Indian cricket team to get into the semi-finals.
Virat Does a Kohli – Pakistani Media Praises King Kohli
The former Indian captain and skilled batsman, King Kohli, led his team to a six-wicket victory against Pakistan, strengthening India’s position among top contenders for the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan with winning the toss chose to bat first and gave its rival a target of 241. In the second half, chasing the target on a slow pitch, Virat held the innings together and contributions for run chasing were given by Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
King Kohli’s brilliant performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 against Pakistan in Dubai got a mixed reaction from the Pakistani media, as some media headlines reflected admiration for Kohli’s unbeaten century, while some showed disappointment for Pakistan’s weak performance. Pakistan’s most trusted and leading English newspaper, Dawn, headlined its match report as “Champions Trophy: Virat Does a Kohli, Powers India to Easy Win Over Pakistan.” The flagship publication noted that a massive target of 270+ might have increased their chances for a better fighting clash.
Another popular Pakistani media channel, Geo News, headlined Kohli’s brilliant performance as “Kohli Stars as Pakistan Lose High-Stakes Champions Trophy Clash Against India.” The overall match analysis by the media focused on King Kohli’s unbeaten century and Shreyas Iyer’s good performance with a 56-run knock for India’s easy victory against Pakistan while chasing a less competitive target of 241.
Pakistan’s Struggles and India Dominate the Chase
With the toss winning Pakistan’s cricket team captain, Mohammad Rizwan elected to bat first. However, even after good performances by the captain (46) and Saud Shakeel (62), Pakistan only managed to provide a target of 241. In the final overs, India’s talented bowlers Kuldeep and Hardik restricted the rival to achieve a competitive score.
While chasing this target, India’s former captain, King Kohli, allowed attendees at Dubai International Cricket Stadium to witness his electrifying performance by securing an unbeaten century. Shubham Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, with contributions of 46, 20, and 56 runs, assisted Kohli in securing this victory. King Kohli’s century made him achieve another record as he became the fastest batter to reach 14k runs in the ODI format, as he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record.
Pakistan’s Hopes for Champions Trophy 2025 Final on the Edge
As Pakistan had to face a defeat in the historic rivalry against India in the Champions Trophy 2025’s 5th match, the team’s hope for the finals is on the edge. The Pakistani media noted that if the team does not quickly make their form better, their hopes for the title defense will be over. However, India’s win in this match has reinforced their chances to reach the semi-finals. In the upcoming matches of this tournament, Pakistan’s response to whether they’ll recover to avoid the early exit will be closely watched.
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