In a high-stakes clash, India outclassed Pakistan by 6 wickets, successfully chasing down 242 in 42.3 overs to eliminate their arch-rivals from the Champions Trophy 2025. Virat Kohli's magnificent century (100 off 111 balls)* and Shreyas Iyer’s composed 56 powered India to a dominant victory, securing their place in the next stage of the tournament.
Pakistan’s Batting Struggles Against Disciplined Indian Bowling
Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 241 in 49.4 overs, but their innings lacked momentum as India’s bowlers maintained tight control.
- Saud Shakeel was the standout batter for Pakistan, scoring 62 off 76 balls with five boundaries.
- Mohammad Rizwan, who led the side, played a sluggish knock of 46 off 77 balls, struggling to accelerate when needed.
- Babar Azam (23 off 26) and Khushdil Shah (38 off 39) made useful contributions, but the lack of big partnerships hurt Pakistan’s total.
Indian bowlers delivered a disciplined performance:
- Kuldeep Yadav (3/40 in 9 overs) was the most effective, breaking crucial partnerships in the middle order.
- Hardik Pandya (2/31 in 8 overs) and Axar Patel (1/49 in 10 overs) ensured that Pakistan never gained momentum.
- Harshit Rana (1/30 in 7.4 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/40 in 7 overs) also chipped in with key wickets.
Pakistan’s 241-run total looked below-par against India’s strong batting lineup.
Virat Kohli Leads India’s Dominant Chase
Chasing 242, India got off to a solid start but lost Rohit Sharma (20 off 15) early, bowled by Shaheen Afridi. Shubman Gill (46 off 52) built a steady partnership with Kohli before falling to Abrar Ahmed.
The chase was then anchored by Virat Kohli (100 off 111 balls), who played a masterful innings*, pacing his knock perfectly. Shreyas Iyer (56 off 67) also played a crucial role, ensuring India stayed ahead in the chase.
Despite losing Hardik Pandya (8 off 6) to Shaheen Afridi, India remained in complete control as Axar Patel (3 off 4)* and Kohli finished the match with ease.
Pakistan’s Bowling Effort Falls Short
Pakistan’s bowling unit failed to create pressure, with only Abrar Ahmed (1/28 in 10 overs) maintaining an economical spell.
- Shaheen Afridi (2/74 in 8 overs) struck early but proved expensive.
- Khushdil Shah (1/43 in 7.3 overs) picked up a wicket but couldn't stop India’s march.
- Haris Rauf (0/52 in 7 overs) and Naseem Shah (0/37 in 8 overs) remained wicketless.
Match Summary
- Pakistan: 241 all out in 49.4 overs
- India: 244/4 in 42.3 overs (India won by 6 wickets)