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Kohli’s unbeaten century seals big win for India

A dazzling unbeaten 100 off 111 balls by Virat Kohli, who earlier joined the 14,000 ODI runs club, has propelled India to a comprehensive six-wicket win against arch-rivals Pakistan.

It was by no small bit helped along by Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill and earlier the spinners for the win. 

The win puts India into the semis while Pakistan now have to wait for a complicated outcome of the group starting on Monday.

Shreyas gone but India on course

After reaching his fifty, Shreyas shimmied down and backed away a long way to go inside-out over extra cover. He connected well but did not get enough elevation as he holed out Imam-ul-Haq off Khushdil.

But India were 27 runs away from coast with 67 balls to spare and the middle order still to bat.

India look to break away

Runs have begun to flow with ease for India as Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, who also completed his half-century, continued to cruise to the 242-target with a century stand.

With only two wickets down, the batsmen are not afraid to play their shots, especially considering the batting depth India boasts.

India were 201 for 2 after 37 overs, needing 41 runs off 78 balls.

Kohli smashes half-century after brainfeeze

Virat Kohli has kept India on course in the 242 chase by smashing a half-century off 62 balls. Kohli continues to perform on the big stages.

However, in the last ball of the 21st over, Kohli stopped an incoming throw with his hand, obstructing the field if things are by the book. But nobody appealed, possibly because the batsman made his ground and then apologised.

India were 140 for 2 after 28 overs.

Gill goes after India reach 100

Abrar Ahmed ripped through the gates of Shubman Gill confounding him to break the 69-run partnership after India eased to 100 in the 18th over.

Virat Kohli has now been joined by in-form Shreyas Iyer as Pakistan look to capitalise on the breakthrough.

India were 102 for 2 after 18 overs in Pakistan’s must-win gauntlet.

Kohli storms into 14,000 club

Virat Kohli has become the quickest to reach 14,000 ODI runs - in 287 innings, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s feat of reaching the milestone in 350 innings. Kumar Sangakkara achieved the milestone in 378 innings.

Kohli elegantly pushed a fuller one from Haris Rauf for his first boundary of the innings to join the elite club in style. India were 93 for 1 after 16 overs.

Gill gets reprieve

After Virat Kohli misjudged a punch through cover point that fell short of Naseem Shah, Shubman Gill jabbed one straight to short midwicket. But Khushdil Shah grassed it with the batter on 35.

Haris Rauf came and created opportunities straight away but how much will letting Gill survive cost Pakistan? 

India were cruising on 70 for 1 in 12 overs with Gill and Kohli still looking comfortable in the middle.

India steady after losing Rohit early

Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli are motoring along in India’s chase of 242 to win against Pakistan, reaching 49 for 1 in 8 overs after losing Rohit Sharma (20) to Shaheen Shah Afridi early.

Afridi swung in a yorker to crash through the gates of the Indian captain who had clubbed three boundaries and a six to provide impetus to the chase.

Pandya, spinners shine as Pakistan fail to launch at death

Pakistan were squeezing towards 250, which would’ve been a good score to defend, but Haris Rauf ran himself out before Harshit Rana ended Khushdil Shah’s sprightly 39-ball 38. 

Rana and Kuldeep returned 28 for 4 in 40 deliveries at the death to restrict Pakistan to 241.

Pakistan’s tail exposed

After Pakistan reached 200 in the 43rd over, Kuldeep Yadav struck twice in two balls to leave Pakistan at risk of being bowled out before playing out their 50-over quota.

Yadav looped one up to draw Salman Agha (19) out and induced a leading edge as Ravindra Jadeja pouched it safely. In the next delivery, Shaheen Shah Afridi was trapped in front for a duck.

Three quick wickets peg Pakistan back

Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel departed in quick succession after a century stand (104 off 144) with Saud Shakeel, leaving Pakistan to rebuild again in the last 15 overs.

Right after being dropped off Pandya, Rizwan shimmied down the track but was yorked by Axar Patel to lose the stumps on 46 off 77 balls.

Shakeel at the other end went for a heave and threw away his wicket to Hardik Pandya on 62 (76).

Ravindra Jadeja then went through the gates of Tayyab Tahir (4) to put India on top as Pakistan were left struggling on 167 for 5 in 37 overs.

Shakeel half-century drives Pakistan

A steady knock from Saud Shakeel keeps Pakistan on course for a decent total on this Dubai International Stadium track.

In his fourth half-century in 19 innings, Shakeel confidently converted good deliveries into singles and remained watchful while Rizwan at the other end gained composure.

He reached his fifty off 63 deliveries cracking four boundaries as Pakistan reached 142 for 2 in 32 overs.

Pakistan 100 up

Saud Shakeel and skipper Mohammad Rizwan have pushed Pakistan past the 100-run mark in the 26th over as the team reached 107 for 2.

Two boundaries off a Kuldeep Yadav over hoisted Pakistan as they looked to break the shackles Indian bowlers have put on them.

Rizwan was slugging on 28 of 54 balls while Rizwan showed a bit more enterprise with 37 off 51 runs.

India bowlers keep things tight

The bowlers were not letting Pakistan get away with looseners, but Shakeel scooped Axar for the first boundary in 32 balls to relieve the pressure a bit.

The pitch is showing signs of grip with a slower offcutter by Pandya taking the batsman by surprise. In the 17th over, Pandya was bowling beautifully, giving away 18 runs in his 6 overs after picking up a wicket.

Into the 18th over, India were 14 minutes behind the over rate with Rizwan batting on 

Shami returns

Mohammed Shami has returned from his short trip to the hutch. He he’s now bowling at mid-late 130 kmph and no longer pitching it up.

Pakistan, however, have completely taken their foot off the gas with Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel still looking for gaps.

Pakistan were 59 for 2 in 13 overs.

Axar direct hit catches Imam short

Imam-ul-Haq pushed one to mid-on and scurried for a run, but Axar Patel snapped up the ball and crashed it into the stumps at the non-striker’s end, ending the Pakistan opener’s laboured 26-ball 10.

Losing the openers in back-to-back overs has now put Pakistan in recovery stage as India try to press further at the end of the first powerplay with the men in green on 52 for 2 after 10 overs.

Babar gone after steady start

Hardik Pandya has filled in the shoes of Mohammed Shami, who left the field, and took out Babar Azam (23) to give India the breakthrough. 

Pandya pulled the length with no real movement and Babar, with an intent to drive, found an edge that carried to the right of the wicketkeeper.

Pandya once again proves to be a versatile asset for India capable of taking the new ball as well.

Shami exits field

Mohammed Shami did not appear to be in rhythm and, in the middle of his third over, called his physio. He was able to finish his over but left the field after that. 

The seamer has been out of the Indian team since late 2023 with an injury.

The track has offered some movement so far and Indian bowler pitched the ball up a bit further. But that’s ended up hurting them as Babar and Imam were able to put away a few nice drives. 

Openers off to steady start

Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq were off to a decent  watchful start. The first over from Mohammed Shami was a wayward one as the seamer gave away three wides in the first five deliveries.

Babar and Imam have similar playing styles, taking their time to settle in and then opening up. But Pakistan would want one of them to put their foot on the gas early on.

The 2017 champions were 25 for no loss after 5 overs.

Gill underplays hype

Hype built around the match but India vice captain Shubman Gill sought to underplay it ahead of the match.

"It doesn't change anything for us, honestly," the opener, who smashed a match-winning hundred against Bangladesh, told reporters on Saturday.

"We play every match to win the match and this is no different for us."

"India-Pakistan has a long history. It's an exciting contest when both these teams play. Everyone enjoys watching it."

Playing XI

So Babar Azam is playing. Pakistan go with one change -- Fakhar Zaman is out and Imam-ul-Haq has taken his place.

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Babar Azam drama before match

Pakistan's batting mainstay Babar Azam drew flak for lacking intent even though he managed a fifty against New Zealand.

Pakistan have left it unclear whether Babar Azam will be available for their clash against arch-rivals India in the Champions Trophy Group A tie after the talismanic batsman skipped training before the game.

"Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi urged the side to beat India “at any cost” to silence critics, news agency Press Trust of India reported on Sunday.

Pakistan bat with all to play for

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first against arch-rivals India in the Group A tie of the Champions Trophy.

India come into the match on the back of a resounding six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their opener in Dubai on Thursday.

Hosts and defending champions Pakistan, on the other hand, looked in disarray in their 60-run loss to New Zealand and the team led by Mohammed Rizwan need a drastic turnaround against Rohit Sharma's men.

Pakistan are staring at an early exit from the tournament. They must win the match to keep their title defence alive on a slow, tired track, where India have already played and won a game.