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ON FIRE: King Kohli slams 51st ODI ton as India rout Pakistan
If you need to ensure Virat Kohli returns to form, bring on Pakistan. On Sunday, as cars heading to the stadium in Dubai caused a massive jam and ticket prices sky-rocketed in black, King Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer produced batting classes of top order as India showed Pakistan their place. To win by six wickets win in the Champions Trophy high profile contest is proof India are streets ahead of Pakistan in every cricket battle in white ball. Tests are ruled out due to political wrangling.
What does one sing in praise of these battles, which is almost once every year in some white ball format or the other? Well, India are always on the ascendant. If the win against the Pakistanis in the ICC T20 World Cup last year in New York in June was emphatic, the Dubai desert contest was also thrilling. Pakistan cry, shout, get whacked. The standard of cricket across the border has collapsed. And one man has ensured he will make the difference always, Virat Kohli. To score his 51st ODI hundred was emotional, as Kohli has faced so much trauma and barbs. Sample the humiliation, Pakistan are hosts, yet cannot ask India to fly into their own country. Dubai is a neutral destination, yet India show them how superior they are.
The Indian bowlers bossed it, led by Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav. They did a fantastic job to choke Pakistan when they batted first. Each Indian inside the arena in Dubai and watching it on TV was rooting for India. The Indian bowling, in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah was iffy. This was not a great day for Mohd Shami, but Pandya and Kuldeep produced a heady cocktail to restrict Pakistan to 241 in 49.4 overs. The Pakistani batters were choking, rather struggling. On this day, despite a few glitches while dropping catches, skipper Rohit Sharma shuffled his bowlers well.
The wicket was being blamed for being not so helpful for stroke-production. Hang on, the best batters will showcase their skills on any surface. In white ball cricket, India are the kings. To peak twice, against Bangladesh and Pakistan is a double scoop of joy. If the Indian bowlers had throttled Pakistan, what flowed as runs from the blades of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill was pure symphony. Rohit had batted in his own template, raced to 20 runs off 15 balls. But the real knockout stuff came from Gill and Kohli.
Gill has been in top gear. The way he has mastered the one-day format is a delight. He had scored two tons before this. This was a high-pressure match. Gill absorbed it like sponge, caressing the Pakistani bowlers and also producing that straight drive. To borrow a phrase from Ravi Shastri, there was a tracer-bullet straight drive, Gill showed balance, footwork and great timing. Then came the moment came for Kohli to show he is King and not a cricketer who is finished. He has been trying very hard, wanting to burst into form. He was in the mood, yet ensured he would not fall cheaply. To score a perfect 100, his 51st in ODIs off 111 balls, studded with seven fours was overwhelming.
What stood out in Kohli’s masterclass, one where he cut out stroke-making and paced it beautifully was defining. For the critics who say his shelf life is over, Kohli was the Lord and Master as he batted so beautifully. His eyes were a picture of concentration, his body in sync and the bat shining like a rapier. He loves to score against Pakistan. The way Kohli batted was defining. He knew he had to score, for himself and the team. To cross 14k runs in ODIs and also forge a partnership with Shreyas Iyer (56) was a platform which lifted the whole stage. When he got to that century, it was sheer ecstasy.
There is something called feeding on the ambience of the great stage. And Kohli grabbed the moment. He has shut up critics, he has made Pakistani social media influencers fall in love even more. Politically, India versus Pakistan will always be a state of war. In cricket, there is no doubt, be it battle or war, India will triumph. They have arsenal which is ‘home-made’ with names attached – Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.
For India to win two matches in a row signals how strong they are. The depth and variety is massive. On a day injured Jasprit Bumrah showed up as a guest to collect his ICC awards, he would have loved to see his team win so emphatically. Pakistan now have two losses, they are almost finished. Ti roam around in Dubai will be tough for them!
