Virat Kohli on Sunday scored his 51st One-Day International hundred during India’s Champions Trophy 2025 match against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
“To be honest, it feels good to be able to bat in that manner in an important game, to seal qualification. Feels good to contribute in a game where we lost Rohit [Sharma] early, had to put in the understanding of what we learnt in the last game. My job was to control the middle overs against the spinners without taking too many risks; towards the end Shreyas accelerated and I got a few boundaries as well,” Kohli said after the India beat Pakistan by six wickets.
Kohli came in to bat after Rohit fell inside the PowerPlay and stitched crucial partnerships with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
“I have a decent understanding of my game, it is about keeping the outside noise away, staying in my space and taking care of my energy levels and thoughts. Very easy to get pulled into the expectations. My job is to stay in the present and do a job for the team. My keynote to myself to put my 100% every ball in the field, and then God eventually rewards you,” Kohli added.
The 36-year-old praised Shreyas and Shubman for their essays which helped India cruise to the 242-run target.
“Shubman did well against Shaheen [Afridi], took him up. There’s a reason he’s the number one batter of the world. It was necessary to get about 60-70 runs in the powerplay, or we’d always be chasing the game. And then Shreyas is really coming into his own at number four. Did well in India, and now out here as well,” Kohli said.
