Champions Trophy: “We Tried Everything, But Virat Took the Game Away”—Pakistan Captain Rizwan

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan admits his team struggled to dismiss Virat Kohli, as the Indian batting maestro orchestrated yet another chase masterclass, leaving Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign hanging by a thread.

Dubai [UAE], February 24: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged that his team threw everything at Virat Kohli, but the Indian batting legend outclassed them yet again, guiding India to a clinical six-wicket victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Kohli’s unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, perfect strike rotation, and immaculate game awareness reminded cricket fans why he is hailed as the “Chase Master.” He not only dismantled Pakistan’s attack with surgical precision but also became the fastest player to reach 14,000 ODI runs, cementing his legacy as one of cricket’s greatest.

“His Fitness and Hard Work Surprised Me”—Rizwan on Kohli

Following the loss, Rizwan couldn’t hide his admiration for Kohli’s fitness, determination, and ability to deliver in high-pressure games.

“First, let’s talk about Virat Kohli. I am surprised at his hard work. He must have worked so hard. The world says he is out of form, but in big matches, he effortlessly finds his rhythm,” Rizwan said during the post-match press conference.

“We didn’t want to give him runs, but he played his shots and got away from us. We tried everything to get him out, but he took the game away. His fitness and commitment are on another level,” he added.

Pakistan’s Poor Performance Across All Departments

While Rizwan praised Kohli’s brilliance, he did not shy away from criticizing his own team’s performance, admitting that Pakistan failed in all three departments—batting, bowling, and fielding.

“When you lose, it is a difficult day. Questions arise. But if you look at the game, we made mistakes in all three departments. The only positive was Abrar Ahmed’s bowling. That’s why we lost the match,” he said bluntly.

Pakistan’s Title Defense on the Brink of Collapse

With two consecutive defeats, Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign now hangs in the balance. Their only hope of survival rests on Bangladesh—if the Tigers pull off an upset against New Zealand in Rawalpindi, Pakistan might get another chance to fight for a semi-final spot.

For now, Rizwan and his team must come to terms with another painful loss to India, while Kohli and Team India march confidently toward the semi-finals.

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