Two-time ICC Champions Trophy winners India comfortably beat arch-rival Pakistan in the Group A fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With this win, India have put a big step ahead for the Semi-finals of the tournament. Meanwhile, the hosts and defending champions now have to look at the other results as any of Bangladesh and New Zealand's double victories in the group stage will out them from the tournament.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan chose to bat first after winning the toss at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. While Pakistan scored 241 all out in 49.4 overs, India comfortably chased the target in 42.3 overs after losing four wickets. 

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Indian Pakistan batters never had strong moments against Indian bowlers

Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq had a good partnership of 41 runs. But Hardik Pandya produced India's first wicket as Babar, who seemed in good touch with the bat, was caught behind in the nine over after scoring 23 off 26 balls with five fours. In the next over, Imam unnecessarily went for a run, and Axar Patel's direct hit ended his innings for 10 off 26 balls. 

Saud Shakeel and captain Mohammad Rizwan tried to set up a solid partnership, but in that progress, their partnership started very slowly as they failed to score singles and doubles often in the boundaries dried up situation. Although they set a 104-run partnership for the third wicket, it didn't help much for them as that partnership took 24 overs.

Both the set batters lost their wickets in consecutive overs as Axar Patel bowled Rizwan for 46 off 77 balls and Pandya dismissed Shakeel for 62 off 76 balls. Later, only Khshudil Shah managed to reach the 20-run mark, while the Indian bowlers did very well in the slog overs. Shah scored 38 off 39 balls before losing the last wicket of Pakistan innings. 

All the Indian bowlers were very disciplined, where Kuldeep Yadav (3/40) took three wickets and Hardik Pandya (2/31) bagged two wickets.  

Centurion Virat Kohli controlled chasing with in-form Gill and Iyer

Indian captain Rohit Sharma had a short stay in the crease, but it was crucial and entertaining as he scored 20 off 15 balls. Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled Rohit in a superb delivery, which the Indian captain had no answer. In-form opener Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli built up a solid partnership, even after considering Gill got a life. They had a 69-run partnership for the second wicket before Abrar Ahmed bowled Gill with a beauty. Gill scored 46 off 52 balls with seven fours, as the opener missed the chance of recording five consecutive 50+ ODI scores.  

Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then controlled the chasing as Pakistan's hope ended comfortably. Apart from one drop chance of Iyer, that 114-run partnership was very clinical. Kohli, who became the fastest to complete 14000 ODI runs on the same evening, completed his half-century in 62 balls. Meanwhile, Iyer scored 50 runs in 63 balls despite having a slow start.

Iyer was dismissed for 56 off 67 balls with five fours and one six, while Hardik Pandya was dismissed for eight off six balls. However, Kohli and Axar Patel comfortably finished the game, while Kohli finished the game with a boundary that recorded his 51st ODI century. The Player of the Match Kohli scored 100 not out off 112 balls with seven fours.