Virat Kohli played a key role with the bat in India’s six-wicket victory over Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (February 23).

Chasing 242 to win, skipper Rohit Sharma laid the foundation again with a quick 15-ball 20, including three fours and a six. Shubman Gill took over with seven boundaries from the other end and scored 46 (52) before being dismissed.

However, it was Kohli’s unbeaten hundred (100 off 111) that proved to be a decider. Shreyas Iyer also produced a half-century 56 (67) as India got over the line with 45 deliveries to spare.

After the game, Kohli highlighted how he was pleased in scoring the big runs for the side when it counts. He reflected on the situation where Rohit fell early on and remained clear on what he had to do from the previous game played in the same venue.

“It feels good to be able to bat in that manner in an important game where we wanted to seal qualification into the semis and to contribute in a situation like that where we lost Rohit early and we had to string in a partnership," Kohli said while peaking at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Took the learnings from the last game that we played, the conditions, the understanding of how to go about things and my job was pretty clear to control the middle-overs. To try and go after the seam bowlers and not take too much risk against the spinners but keep rotating strike. And once we struck a nice partnership with Shreyas to the end, he accelerated and I got a few boundaries away at the end, it is more or less the way I play ODI cricket so I was happy with the template," he added.

Kohli’s form was a topic of discussion ahead of the showpiece tournament. He managed to score 22 off 38 balls in India’s campaign opener against Bangladesh at the same venue.

“For me, I have a decent understanding of the game over the years. For me, it’s about keeping the outside noise and the distractions away. I try to stay in my space as much as possible, and really take care of my energy levels, and what I am thinking about. Because it is easy for me to get pulled into the expectations and frenzy of these games," Kohli stated.

“My job is to focus on my skills and to be able to do the job for my team as much as I can and one of the keynotes there is that I kept telling myself on the field whenever I was feeling a little bit down, I’m gonna put 100 per cent on every ball and sometimes I will get rewards for the hard work I put on the ground. That’s why I take a lot of pride in working hard and running around the field. I think god rewards you accordingly," he further remarked.

Kohli lauded his team’s approach right from the start. He praised Rohit and Gill’s early blitz to set a platform for their chase. He also mentioned Shreyas who has cemented the number four spot as his own with performances in the last few years.

“If you don’t score against the seamers then spinners become even more potent. And if you score enough off the seamers as the openers gave us a brilliant start, Shubman went after Shaheen, that kind of negated their new-ball bowling a little bit. If you don’t get 60-70 in the first 10, then you are always chasing the game. The way those two are setting the platform at the top has been helping us in the middle order. Shubman has been in phenomenal touch, there’s a reason why he is the number one ODI batter in the world," Kohli said.

“Shreyas has really come of age at number four, 500-odd runs in the World Cup, continuing his form in India and now here as well. Everyone’s got a decent knock, out in these conditions and the understanding so that’s good," he concluded.