Wed Feb 26 13:50:00 UTC 2025: ## India Crushes Pakistan in Champions Trophy Thriller, Kohli Leads the Charge
**Dubai, UAE –** India secured a resounding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a crucial Champions Trophy 2025 match on Sunday, virtually guaranteeing their place in the semifinals. Virat Kohli spearheaded India’s triumph with a magnificent unbeaten century (100 off 111), his 51st in ODIs, while Shreyas Iyer (56) and Shubman Gill (46) also contributed significantly to the chase.
Pakistan, after electing to bat first, were dismissed for 241. Saud Shakeel (62) and captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) offered some resistance, but India’s bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav (3/40) and Hardik Pandya (2/31), kept the pressure on throughout. Pandya notably dismissed Pakistan captain Babar Azam (23) early in the innings.
India’s chase was relatively comfortable, despite the early loss of Rohit Sharma (20). Kohli’s century, punctuated by several powerful shots, effectively sealed the victory with 7.3 overs to spare, drawing celebrations not only from the Indian team and fans, but also surprisingly, from some Pakistan cricket enthusiasts seen cheering his achievement in a video circulating on social media.
The win places India firmly in contention for a semifinal berth with two wins from two matches. Pakistan, on the other hand, faces elimination after two consecutive losses. Post-match reactions included praise for Kohli’s performance from several prominent figures, including Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, and MK Stalin, while Pakistan captain Rizwan acknowledged India’s superior performance and his team’s struggles. The match was widely celebrated across social media platforms. This hard-fought victory further intensifies the already fierce rivalry between these two cricketing giants.
First Piper 