Record-Breaking Kohli Leads India to Champions Trophy Triumph

 Virat Kohli delivered a stellar performance on Sunday, February 23, 2025, scoring an unbeaten 100 runs from 111 balls to secure a six-wicket victory for India against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy Group A match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The former Indian captain showcased his batting prowess with seven fours, forging crucial partnerships—69 runs for the second wicket with Shubman Gill (46) and 114 runs for the third wicket with Shreyas Iyer (56). His exceptional display earned him the Player of the Match award.

Kohli’s innings not only steered India closer to the semifinals but also saw him break multiple records. He became the fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s milestone. Kohli achieved this feat in just 287 innings, significantly ahead of Tendulkar’s 350 innings. This achievement places Kohli among an elite list of players, with only Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara having amassed over 14,000 runs in ODIs.

During the match, Kohli reached his half-century off 62 balls with a boundary against Naseem Shah. This was his sixth 50+ score in the Champions Trophy, placing him at the top of the leaderboard alongside Indian legends Shikhar Dhawan, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid. He also equaled Tendulkar’s record of most 50+ scores (23) in ICC ODI tournaments, including the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy.

Kohli’s knock also saw him surpass Ricky Ponting’s record of 27,483 international runs, making him the third-highest run-scorer in international cricket with 27,503 runs. His century against Pakistan was historic, making him the first Indian batter to achieve a ton against their arch-rivals in the Champions Trophy. Previously, Rohit Sharma held the highest individual score for India against Pakistan in this tournament with 91 runs.

Additionally, Kohli set a new record for most runs against Pakistan in Champions Trophy history, accumulating 224 runs and overtaking Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya. He also became the first batter to score a century against Pakistan in both the Champions Trophy and the ODI World Cup, a feat that no other player has achieved in ICC ODI tournaments.

Kohli’s performance on Sunday further cemented his legacy as India’s most successful fielder in ODIs. By taking Naseem Shah’s catch, he recorded his 158th ODI catch, surpassing Mohammad Azharuddin’s 156. He now trails only Mahela Jayawardene (218) and Ricky Ponting (160) in the list of most catches in ODIs.

The century in Dubai earned Kohli his fifth Player of the Match award against Pakistan in ICC tournaments, setting another record as no other player has won more than three such awards against a single opponent in these competitions. Kohli’s consistency and dominance continue to make him one of the greatest ODI batters of all time. With the Champions Trophy still in progress, he will aim to maintain his remarkable form and guide India to their third title victory in the tournament’s history.

For more in-depth coverage of the Champions Trophy, stay updated with the latest Points Table, Most Runs, and Most Wickets leaderboards. Keep following for all the latest updates.