Kohli’s century guides India to victory

Virat Kohli became the fastest batter and third man to reach 14,000 runs in One-day International cricket before hitting a record-extending 51st century in the ODI format.

Kohli hit an unbeaten century as India won against Pakistan by six wickets, putting them on the brink of reaching the Champions Trophy semifinals.

Pakistan reached 241 after winning the toss and choosing to bat first, with Saud Shakeel scoring 62, and Muhammad Rizwan followed with 46. Khushdil Shah hoisted the total with a late cameo, smashing 38 off 39 balls

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav finished with 3-40, while Hardik Pandya’s 8 overs brought him 2-31.

Pakistan’s hopes shone when a yorker from left-arm Shaheen Afridi swung into India captain Rohit Sharma’s middle stump in the fifth over.

However, Kohli guided them to the target from that point, making his 51st ODI century.

Abrar Ahmed dismissed Shubman Gill for 46, Shreyas Iyer made 56, but Kohli’s century off 111 balls, including 7 fours, guided India home with 45 balls to spare.

With two runs left for victory and Kohli on 96, he hit a powerful drive off Khushdil for four to send the India fans wild at the Dubai International Stadium.

India has two victories from its opening two group matches and is on top of Group A, while Pakistan lost both and is at the foot of the table.

In 17 ODI innings against Pakistan, Kohli has scored 778 runs at an average of 59.84, including 4 centuries.

No India player with 500-plus ODI runs in the format averages more against Pakistan.

Kohli scored more than 14,000 ODI runs in 63 fewer innings than his idol Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run-scorer in the format.

Tendulkar’s 18,426 ODI runs might prove just out of reach for Kohli, but he is well within striking distance of Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who is second on the all-time list with 14,234.

One record Kohli bagged was the most ODI catches for India as he reached his 158th and leaped ahead of Mohammad Azharuddin (156) and into the top spot.