Virat Kohli Proves Critics Wrong with Blistering Century Against Pakistan

Image credits: PTI

Virat Kohli's childhood coach, Raj Kumar Sharma, had a simple yet powerful message for the Indian stalwart's critics to watch his statistics after the 36-year-old tonked a blistering century against arch-rival Pakistan in Dubai in the ongoing Champions Trophy. India outfoxed its arch-rival Pakistan in all facets of the game and sailed to a comfortable six-wicket win. Pakistan set a modest 242-run target for India to chase, and Virat perfectly orchestrated the victory with his 51st ODI ton.

Virat has been on the radar since an underwhelming test tour of Australia. He returned to the ODI fold against England during the build-up to the Champions Trophy and showed signs of returning to form with a composed fifty in the final ODI. During India's Champions Trophy campaign opener against Bangladesh, Virat toiled hard and produced a scratchy 22, which attracted criticism from some sections of fans. But Virat had saved his best for his favourite opposition to score against Pakistan. He stitched vital partnerships with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer and struck the winning runs by dispatching the ball to the boundary rope with a shot clean as a whistle.

Raj Kumar expressed his delight about India's performance and how Virat smashed records, silencing the critics with his bat. "It was a remarkable performance. He has been doing this for a long time. All I can say to critics is just look at his stats. Everybody has their thinking, but Virat gives his answer with the bat. His work ethic is strong. That is why he has delivered so many performances," Raj Kumar told ANI. Virat lived up to his reputation as a 'chase master' and was the main mastermind behind Pakistan's downfall. He slammed an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls, laced with seven fours, a delight for every cricket lover. Virat figured out the perfect route to victory and helped India chase down 242 with a handful of overs to spare. His knock came at a 90.09 strike rate, helping India effortlessly chase down Pakistan's total of 241.

This was Kohli's sixth century in ICC ODI events and his maiden in the ICC Champions Trophy. It wasn't just his record-extending 51st ODI hundred or taking India past the finishing line; Virat added another feather to his cap, becoming the fastest to 14,000 runs in the format. Former cricketer and selector Sarandeep Singh felt it was a deserving win for the "best team in ODIs," India. He praised the Rohit Sharma-led side for its ability to churn out results even when the conditions are against them. The match scores were as follows:

• India: 242/4
• Pakistan: 241/10

The player statistics were as follows:

• Virat Kohli: 100* (111 balls, 7 fours)
• Shubman Gill: 43 (49 balls, 4 fours)
• Shreyas Iyer: 33 (32 balls, 2 fours)

The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. India vs Bangladesh: March 18
2. India vs Pakistan: March 23

The team rankings are as follows:

• India: 1st
• Pakistan: 2nd

Virat's performance was a testament to his dedication to the sport, and he will look to continue his good form in the upcoming matches.

Robin Uthappa, a former India player, also praised Virat's performance, saying that he will score heavily in the Champions Trophy and lead the team's batting along with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Uthappa believes that Virat is a big player in big matches and will deliver for India. He also praised the likes of Gill, Iyer, and Hardik Pandya, saying that they will play a vital role in taking India forward in the tournament. Uthappa added that Arshdeep Singh could be India's "trump card" in the tournament.