Virat Kohli earned praise from former cricketers for his brilliant performance against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy in Dubai. His exceptional knock led India to a dominant win over their arch-rivals.
India’s Bowlers Dominate
First, India’s bowlers set the tone by restricting Pakistan to 241 runs. They controlled the game from the start and kept the opposition under pressure. As a result, the batters had a clear target to chase.
Kohli’s Chase Masterclass
Meanwhile, Kohli took charge of the chase with a perfectly paced innings. He struck boundaries with precision and remained unbeaten. Eventually, his flawless shot sealed his 51st ODI century and India’s six-wicket victory.
Cricket Legends Applaud Kohli
After the match, Sachin Tendulkar praised Kohli and the team’s performance. He wrote on X, “A perfect ending to the most awaited match. A real knockout! Team India. Superb knocks by @imVkohli, @ShreyasIyer15, and @ShubmanGill, and wonderful bowling by our bowlers especially @imkuldeep18 and @hardikpandya7!”
A perfect ending to the most awaited match. A real knockout!
Team India 🇮🇳👌🏏
Superb knocks by @imVkohli, @ShreyasIyer15, and @ShubmanGill, and wonderful bowling by our bowlers especially @imkuldeep18 and @hardikpandya7!#INDvsPAK
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 23, 2025
After struggling for form, Kohli silenced critics with an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls. Moreover, he hit seven elegant boundaries and guided India to victory with overs to spare.
Notably, Kohli became the fastest player to reach 14,000 ODI runs. Thus, he added another milestone to his illustrious career.
Shoaib Akhtar’s Praise
Despite Pakistan’s defeat, Shoaib Akhtar acknowledged Kohli’s brilliance. In a video, he said, “Again, if you tell Virat Kohli that he has to play against Pakistan, he will come fully prepared, and then he will show. Hats off to him. He is like a superstar. He is a white ball run chaser. He is a modern-day great. There is no doubt about it.”
Furthermore, Akhtar admired Kohli’s dedication and said, “I am really happy for him. The reason why? He is an honest guy. He has completed 14,000 runs today. I don’t know what he will do next. This guy gets it all. I am really, really happy for him. I wish him all the best. I think he deserves all the praise. Seriously. The way he came out. He played flawlessly.”
More Cricketers Praise Kohli
Likewise, Irfan Pathan celebrated Kohli’s consistent performances against Pakistan. He wrote on X, “Virat Kohli scoring runs against Pakistan. A beautiful love story continues. Double it up.”
Similarly, Sanjay Manjrekar admired Kohli’s discipline and fitness. He wrote on X, “Virat is the epitome of someone who gives himself the best chance to succeed by controlling what he can by way of extreme fitness & amazing application. And that’s the best a human being can do, isn’t it?”
Virat is the epitome of someone who gives himself the best chance to succeed by controlling what he can by way of extreme fitness & amazing application. And that’s the best a human being can do, isn’t it? 🙇🙇🙇#INDvsPAK #JioHotstar
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 23, 2025
In the end, Kohli once again proved why he is one of cricket’s greatest players.