India’s Virat Kohli in motion towards Pakistan on February 23, 2025.— Reuters
Indian legend Virat Kohli says he shut down “the noise” to compile an unbeaten 100 and turn out to be solely the third man to make 14,000 runs in one-day internationals in Sunday’s six-wicket overcome Pakistan within the Champions Trophy, AFP reported.
Kohli’s 51st ton within the format in Dubai led India to a snug victory over their arch-rivals and to the brink of the semi-finals.
The knock from the 36-year-old stood out within the high-pressure match as the previous captain got here into the 50-over match with hypothesis over his cricket future.
“My job was clear – to control in the middle overs, not take risks against spinners and take on the pacers. I was happy with the template, it’s how I play in ODIs,” mentioned man-of-the-match Kohli.
“I have a decent understanding of my game. It’s about keeping the outside noise away, take care of my energy levels and thoughts. It’s easy for me to get pulled into expectations and frenzy around games like these.”
Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan mentioned his respect for Kohli had rocketed.
“I wonder how hard he would have worked when the whole world was saying he is out of form but coming into a match which is awaited by the world, he scores runs easily,” mentioned Rizwan.
“I praise his hard work and fitness.”
India captain Rohit Sharma mentioned, “Virat loves representing the country, doing what he does the best, which is what he did today. People sitting inside the dressing room aren’t surprised with what he did.”
Kohli entered the match with 13,985 runs in 298 ODIs and went previous 14,000 runs with a flowing punch by means of the covers off tempo bowler Haris Rauf.
He’s simply the third man to attain the feat after India icon Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Sri Lankan nice Kumar Sangakkara (14,234).
Kohli, who was out for 22 within the opening win over Bangladesh, placed on 114 runs with Shreyas Iyer as he drove and flicked with aplomb to succeed in his 82nd ton throughout all codecs with a profitable boundary.
He took off his helmet and raised his bat to a standing ovation kind the gang that chanted his title.
‘Hungry for runs’
“I have never thought of Virat struggling for runs,” mentioned Iyer.
“It’s just that the mindset he possesses over the years, he is always hungry for runs and I remember yesterday he came almost an hour before us for the practise session. Looking from outside he looked as crisp as he looks all the time.”
Kohli and Rohit retired from T20 internationals after India’s World Cup triumph final 12 months.
However the two struggled to seek out their greatest kind in each Check and 50-over codecs attributable to inconsistent run-scoring, with hypothesis that they might quickly retire.
However each flopped, with Rohit scoring three and 28 in his first and second innings for Mumbai within the Ranji Trophy and Kohli scoring six off 15 balls for Delhi.
Kohli will seemingly take area towards New Zealand subsequent Sunday of their ultimate group match for his three hundredth ODI since his debut in 2008.
