Indian batting legend Virat Kohli played a mesmerizing century to lead his team to a comprehensive six-wicket win over Pakistan and book their spot in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals. Kohli, who had a dream day in Dubai on Sunday, wrapped up India's victory in style, scoring his 51st ODI century off a boundary.
The game was also the ideal platform for Kohli to reassert his dominance on his signature cover drive—a shot that has characterised much of his career. During his innings, the right-hander hammered seven beautiful fours, showing his class. Recently, he had struggled to play this stroke, losing his wicket frequently in the process.
Talking about his strategy towards the shot, Kohli explained that he was working on believing in his strokes early during the high-pressure game to gain confidence.
"It is a catch-22. It has been my type of weakness too over the years, but I have also scored a lot of runs off that shot. I feel today was just about playing behind my shots. The first two boundaries I got were cover drives on the rise, so I actually had to just let it go a bit, take a risk, and complete my shots," Kohli said in a video posted by bcci.tv.
"When I play those types of shots, I am in control. It was a good innings for me individually. It was excellent team work," he further added.
Adding another feather to his cap, Kohli also became the quickest batsman to reach 14,000 ODI runs, with the majority of his contributions being made from the No. 3 slot. Talking about his strategy, the 36-year-old highlighted his focus on taking the team to the winning side.
"I was able to play the way I wanted and help in a cause of victory. It clearly feels wonderful. It was important to dig in and get this victory to confirm qualification," he added.
Kohli also emphasized the importance of his role in the team, especially in run chases.
"One thing I've always thought about batting at No. 3 is reducing risk and putting my team in a good position. If there's a chance to win the game in a chase, it's always preferable. I have always enjoyed that kind of challenge. My role has not changed over the years—whatever the game requires, I put my head down and get the job done," he further added.
Embracing the fervor of an India-Pakistan confrontation, Kohli referred to the charged atmosphere generated by spectators from both sides.
"The experience is always a little more charged when you are playing against Pakistan, particularly in this part of the world, because both teams have the same number of supporters. It was a great day for us as a team and for me individually," he said.
India's next test will be against New Zealand in their last Group A match on March 2.
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