Following his match-winning century against Pakistan, Virat Kohli reflects on his “catch-22” shot, his role at No. 3, and India’s dominant win in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Dubai [UAE], February 24: Virat Kohli once again proved why he is one of the greatest chasers in cricket, smashing an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls to guide India to a resounding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
However, for Kohli, his favorite cover drive—a shot that has earned him countless runs—also presents a “catch-22” situation, as it has been a vulnerability in his game over the years.
“It’s a ‘catch-22’. I mean, it’s kind of been my weakness as well over the years, but I’ve scored a lot of runs on that shot,” Kohli said in a video shared by the Indian Cricket Team on Instagram.
“Today was just about backing my shots. The first couple of boundaries I got were cover drives on the rise, so I really had to let it go a little and take a bit of risk. When I hit those kinds of shots, I feel in control when I bat out there,” he added.
“My Role at No. 3 is to Minimize Risk and Win Games”—Kohli
Opening up about his approach to batting at No. 3, Kohli emphasized his focus on reducing risks and putting India in winning positions.
“One thing I’ve always thought of batting at three is to minimize risk and make sure I put my team in a winning position. If you have a chance to finish off the game in a chase, obviously, that’s much better,” Kohli said.
“My role over the years has remained the same—whatever the game demands, I put my head down and try to do that,” he added.
Kohli Joins Elite List With 14,000 ODI Runs
With this century, Kohli became only the third player in cricket history to cross 14,000 ODI runs, joining the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs) and Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs).
In 299 ODIs, Kohli has now scored 14,085 runs at an average of 58.20, with 51 centuries and 73 fifties to his name.
Match Recap: India’s Commanding Win Over Pakistan
- Pakistan Innings: Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 241 in 49.4 overs, with Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46) leading the charge. However, India’s disciplined bowling attack restricted them from setting a bigger total.
- India’s Chase: India lost Rohit Sharma early (20 off 15 balls), but Virat Kohli (100), Shubman Gill (46), and Shreyas Iyer (56)* ensured a comfortable chase, finishing with six wickets and 45 balls to spare.
With this dominant win, India is one step closer to the semi-finals, while Pakistan faces elimination from the tournament.
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Virat Kohli century, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India vs Pakistan, Kohli 14000 runs, Cricket news, Team India, Kohli cover drive, Champions Trophy highlights, BCCI, India cricket, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel