Virat Kohli cut through the tension in a yet another crucial chase to confirm India’s spot in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy. His 84 off 98 in Dubai helped them chase down 265 against ODI World Cup holders, Australia, on a tricky pitch.
“This game is all about pressure, especially big games like semis and finals, and if you go deep into the innings, and you have enough wickets in hand, the opposition usually gives in, and the game becomes easier,” Kohli said after picking up the Player of the Match award. “It’s very important to control your impulses while the game is going on.
“For me, what’s important is to know the number of overs and the number of runs left, even if the gap’s 25-30 and it comes to six an over, I’m not bothered if we have seven or six wickets in hand, because then you know, two set batters and we can turn the game around. The opposition can only come into the game with wickets. That was the plan out there.”
Kohli came in to bat in the fifth over with India on 30 for 1. His 91-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer, followed by 44 and 47 more with Axar Patel and KL Rahul respectively took India close, before Rahul and Hardik Pandya applied the finishing touches.
