India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 — Kohli's 100* Seals 6-Wicket Win
India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets in the 2025 Champions Trophy group match at Dubai. Virat Kohli scored his 51st ODI century — an unbeaten 100* — as India chased 242 with 45 balls to spare.
India and Pakistan met in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy group stage on 23 February 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium — a match that drew hundreds of millions of viewers across the cricket world. India vs Pakistan remains the most-watched fixture in cricket, and this edition delivered one of the great individual performances of the tournament: Virat Kohli's unbeaten 100*, his 51st ODI century, which sealed a commanding 6-wicket win for India.
Pakistan's Innings: 241 All Out
Pakistan batted first and were dismissed for 241 in 49.4 overs. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 62 as Pakistan's batting proved inconsistent. Kuldeep Yadav was India's stand-out bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 43 runs. Shaheen Afridi lower-order contributions failed to propel Pakistan to a competitive total, and India's spinners exploited the dry Dubai surface to restrict the scoring in the middle overs. A total of 241 was below par on a ground that had been producing high scores in the tournament.
Kohli's 51st ODI Century
Chasing 242, India lost wickets early to Shaheen Afridi (2/74) but Virat Kohli anchored the chase with characteristic authority. He reached his century from a difficult position and remained not out at the end as India reached 244/4 in 42.3 overs — a chase completed with 45 balls to spare. Kohli's 100* was his 51st ODI century, extending his own world record. No other batter in ODI history is within 50 centuries of this milestone. The innings was measured and intelligent: Kohli absorbed pressure early, accelerated through the middle overs, and finished the chase with authority.
Why This Match Was Held in Dubai
The 2025 Champions Trophy was hosted by Pakistan — their first major ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup. However, India declined to travel to Pakistan due to the bilateral political relationship between the two countries. The ICC approved a 'hybrid model': all of India's matches in the tournament, including the India vs Pakistan group game and the Final, were held at a neutral venue in Dubai, UAE. This arrangement required extensive negotiation between the BCCI, PCB, and ICC, and set a significant precedent for future tournament scheduling.
India's Tournament Trajectory
India's dominant win over Pakistan was one of the highlights of an unbeaten tournament run that ended with India lifting the Champions Trophy for the third time. They went on to beat New Zealand by 4 wickets in the Final, also held in Dubai on 9 March 2025. India's Champions Trophy 2025 campaign was defined by Kohli's batting throughout the tournament and Kuldeep Yadav's consistent wicket-taking in the spin-friendly Dubai conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Who won India vs Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy?
India won by 6 wickets. Pakistan scored 241 all out, and India reached 244/4 in 42.3 overs (with 45 balls to spare). Virat Kohli scored 100* to seal the win.
Why was India vs Pakistan CT 2025 played in Dubai?
The 2025 Champions Trophy was officially hosted by Pakistan, but India refused to travel to Pakistan for political reasons. The ICC implemented a hybrid model where India's matches — including the India-Pakistan group game and the Final — were played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE.
What century was Kohli's 100 vs Pakistan in CT 2025?
It was Virat Kohli's 51st ODI century — extending his own world record for most centuries in One Day International cricket. No other batter in ODI history has scored 40 centuries, let alone 51.
Who was India's best bowler against Pakistan in CT 2025?
Kuldeep Yadav was India's most effective bowler, taking 3 wickets for 43 runs. The left-arm wrist-spinner exploited the dry Dubai pitch to dismiss key Pakistani batters in the middle overs.