Who won Yesterday's Champions Trophy 2025 Match? All you need to know about India vs Pakistan match on February 23

India vs Pakistan: Virat Kohli once again proved why he is one of the finest to have played the ODI format, delivering a flawless century that guided India to a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a crucial Group A encounter of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Despite being the designated 'home' team, Pakistan found itself overwhelmed by a sea of blue in the stands as Kohli's unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, adorned with seven boundaries, anchored India's successful chase of 242 in 42.3 overs. His innings was a testament to his experience and adaptability, showcasing precise stroke play and unwavering composure under pressure.

Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a brisk start, setting the tone early before Pakistan's pacers struck back. Rohit's cameo ended when Shaheen Shah Afridi castled him with a searing yorker. However, Kohli's arrival steadied the innings, and from the moment he drove Haris Rauf for two exquisite boundaries in an over, it was clear that he meant business.

While Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking with calculated singles and elegant boundaries, Shubman Gill took the attack to Afridi, piercing gaps with precision. His aggressive stroke play ensured that Pakistan never had the upper hand in the chase. Once Gill departed, Shreyas Iyer joined Kohli at the crease, and the duo stitched together a crucial 114-run stand that took the game well beyond Pakistan's reach. Iyer's 56 was instrumental in keeping the required run rate in check, and his ability to tackle spin effectively complemented Kohli's fluent knock.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan opted to bat first but failed to make the most of the conditions, posting a below-par 241 before being bowled out in 49.4 overs. Their innings saw moments of promise but lacked the momentum needed to challenge a strong Indian side.

Saud Shakeel's fighting half-century (62) and Khushdil Shah's late burst (38) were the only standout performances in an otherwise underwhelming batting effort. The top order failed to capitalize on a steady start, with Babar Azam finding the gaps early but losing partners at crucial junctures. Imam-ul-Haq struggled to get going, consuming deliveries without scoring a boundary in the PowerPlay before an unfortunate run-out ended his stay.

Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan (46) stitched a 104-run partnership for the third wicket, but the inability to accelerate in the middle overs proved costly. Hardik Pandya's disciplined spell (2/31) stifled the batters, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav combined to dismantle the lower order, with the latter bagging three crucial wickets.

Apart from guiding India to victory, Kohli achieved multiple milestones during the match. He became the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record by achieving the feat in 63 fewer innings. Additionally, his catch to dismiss Naseem Shah in the 47th over saw him eclipse Mohammad Azharuddin's record for most catches by an Indian fielder in ODIs.

With this comprehensive win, India secured the top spot in Group A with four points and a healthy net run rate of 0.647. Pakistan, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle to qualify for the semifinals after suffering consecutive defeats.

India will next take on New Zealand at the same venue, in what promises to be another high-octane clash, as Kohli and his team look to extend their winning run in the tournament.