It feels good, says Kohli on his match-winning hundred against Pakistan
Speculation arose that the aging Virat Kohli might struggle against spin bowling during the high stakes Champions Trophy match against Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium.
The difficulties Virat Kohli faced outside the off-stump in red-ball cricket became prime time television topics in India where cricket discussions often excite celebrity anchors more than inflation issues.
The match against bitter rivals Pakistan in Dubai represented a major issue following India’s months-long refusal to travel across the border for cricket games.
What Kohli cared about right away had nothing to do with India-Pakistan bilateral relations.
The main goal for him was to regain his batting rhythm in the middle overs against spin bowlers during white-ball matches. The 36-year-old got to the training session two hours early on Saturday to practice against local spinners for several hours which included facing two leg-spinners.
After being dismissed by spinners in his last four matches the former Indian captain sought to prove himself again. The game ended on Sunday after 24 hours of play during which Kohli silenced his critics by demonstrating remarkable control against both fast bowlers and spinners while 'Kohli', 'Kohli' chants filled the stadium.
Kohli extended his ODI record to 51 centuries by playing a majestic cover drive to score four runs off left-arm spinner Khushdil Shah when India needed two runs for victory while he himself required four runs to achieve his well-deserved ton resulting in a six-wicket win for India.
Back in top form, Kohli (100 not out off 111 balls) delivered an impressive performance while Pakistan returned home knowing their semifinal aspirations depend on a slim chance.
Mohammad Rizwan’s team entered a critical must-win match against India in Dubai after their initial defeat to New Zealand. Pakistan's limited score of 241 all out proved inadequate against India's strong batting lineup because the pitch offered no swing conditions for their pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi alongside Naseem Shah and Haris Rauff.
Pakistan received a morale boost when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Rohit Sharma (20) with a scorching yorker during the fifth over. Shubman Gill demonstrated elegant shot-making with his 46 runs off 52 balls before being dismissed unexpectedly.
Shreyas Iyer delivered another vital performance with the bat in the middle order while Kohli maintained steady scoring from his position. The Indian idol who reached 14,000 ODI runs moved his game forward to achieve his hundred milestone.
Kohli expressed his satisfaction about his performance while batting in a crucial match that presented an opportunity to advance to the semis after winning the man-of-the-match award.
During the match I needed to manage the middle overs carefully without risking my wicket against spinners while attacking against fast bowlers. I liked my approach because it represents the way I perform in ODIs. My knowledge about my own performance as a cricketer remains strong.
When Kohli entered the field at 1/31 on Sunday he stated that his critics' comments about his performance against spinners did not affect him.
My focus remains on blocking external distractions while managing my energy levels and thinking process. The expectations and excitement surrounding major games tend to draw me in, he mentioned.
“It's what I take pride in. You achieve success through focused work when you concentrate on your tasks. Clear thinking becomes essential to score when the ball moves quickly through the air.
India who stand a strong chance to advance to the semifinals after defeating Bangladesh and Pakistan twice now enjoy a six-day rest before their upcoming match against New Zealand in Dubai which will conclude their group stage on March 2.
At 36 years old, taking a week off feels excellent. Kohli admitted that this level of effort demands a lot from him.
The Pakistani captain Rizwan expressed admiration towards India’s bowlers including Kuldeep Yadav who took 3 wickets for 40 runs and Hardik Pandya who claimed 2 wickets for 31 runs.
The team won the toss but failed to gain any advantage. The team aimed to reach 280 but their bowlers performed exceptionally well during the middle overs.
Kohli and Gill moved the match away from our reach.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 241 all out in 49.4 overs (S. Shakeel 62, M. Rizwan 46, K. Shah 38; K. Yadav 3-40, H. Pandya 2-31) v India 244-4 in 42.3 overs (V. Kohli 100 not out, S. Iyer 56, S. Gill 46; S. Shah Afridi 2-74)
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