ICC Champions Trophy: Try and stop Virat Kohli against Pakistan

Think about it. A cricketer, infamously labeled as someone going through a lean patch for months at a stretch now. Would anyone expect such a player to break multiple records in a single match while still in the midst of a slump? Under normal circumstances, the answer would be no. But those familiar with the game and the level at which Virat Kohli operates wouldn’t doubt it for a second. In the ongoing India vs Pakistan match at the ICC Champions Trophy, Kohli etched his name into the history books, becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs. The record-breaking feat saw Kohli surpass his idol, the "God of Cricket," Sachin Tendulkar, to claim the top spot in the record books. What’s more? Kohli has just dashed Pakistan’s hopes of capitalizing on his supposed batting slump, hitting his 82nd international ton.

India vs Pakistan: Virat Kohli hits his 82nd international ton

While past experiences should have warned them, Pakistan fancied their chances of tackling Virat Kohli easily in Dubai. The batter, who faced massive scrutiny for his form in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, failed to impress upon his return to the ODI format. Concerns grew when Kohli departed cheaply in the second India vs England ODI at home. Though he managed a fifty in the final fixture, he struggled again, falling to a spinner in India's campaign opener against Bangladesh at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

However, finding runs against Pakistan has never been a challenge for Kohli, especially in ODIs. He is the highest overall run-scorer against the neighbors and boasts an impressive average of 52.15, the highest for an Indian. On Sunday, as Pakistan managed to post 241 on the scoreboard, Kohli’s turn to bat came early after Shaheen Afridi rattled skipper Rohit Sharma’s stumps during the powerplay. Partnering with the in-form Shubman Gill, Kohli remained cautious against deliveries outside the fifth and sixth stump. Moreover, he had the perfect response to Abrar Ahmed, his keen eyes assessing whether a spinner would once again be his downfall, as per the recent trend.

However, nothing came to Pakistan's rescue as Kohli hit another fifty against the arch-rivals. In the process, the modern-day legend completed 14,000 ODI runs, needing just 15 runs before the match to achieve the feat. He brought up the landmark in signature style, striking a boundary off Haris Rauf, further cementing his legacy as one of the finest to have played the 50-over format.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the speed at which Kohli has accumulated these runs. He reached the 14,000-run milestone in just 287 innings, toppling the previous record set by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who took 350 innings to reach the same tally. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara remains the only other batter to have crossed this landmark.

The concluding moments of the India vs Pakistan game witnessed Kohli's tussle against the run flow to chase his hundred. Pakistan was kicked out of the match early in the chase, courtesy of the chase master. However, interest never faded away as audience prayed for the stars to align for Kohli's century. A deliberate wide delivery by Shaheen Afridi couldn't stop the Indian from his goal. With just two runs remaining to win the match, Kohli hit a splendid four to complete his century as India won the match by 6 wickets. Pakistan, meanwhile, has become the first team to be eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy.