ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Virat Kohli Silences Doubts, Proves He is Still a Master
There’s been a lot of talk about Virat Kohli’s future in cricket. However, in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal against the mighty Australia, Kohli has shown everyone why he is still one of the best. He’s been amazing at chasing down scores, especially in tough situations.
In the semi-final against Australia, Virat Kohli scored 84 runs. Though it wasn’t a century like his inning against Pakistan, this knock was just as important. He reminded everyone that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, he seems to be playing even better than before.
Virat Kohli didn’t have a great start against Bangladesh. He looked uncomfortable at the crease. After that game, he spent extra time practicing in the nets. He faced local spin bowlers and practiced against the Indian team’s spinners. He wanted to understand how they bowled and how to play against them. He would even check the imaginary field settings and find ways to hit the ball into the gaps. If he found a gap, he would celebrate with a fist pump or say something to the bowlers.
Against Australia, India lost both openers early. They were chasing a score of 265 runs on a difficult pitch. Kohli knew he had to keep the asking rate down. He played a smart innings, getting to his 50 off just 53 balls. He ran a lot of singles and twos, which was perfect for the pitch.
“It was pretty similar to the other day against Pakistan,” Kohli said after the game. “For me, it’s about just understanding the conditions, preparing my game accordingly, just rotating strike. Because partnerships on this pitch are the most important thing.”
Kohli is excellent at controlling the pace of a chase. He doesn’t panic, even if there are a lot of dot balls. He hasn’t played any risky shots, which shows how well he understands the conditions. He has 28 centuries in chases, and 24 of them have led to wins.
Of the 98 balls he faced against Australia, only 33 were dot balls. Even when India lost Shreyas Iyer, Kohli didn’t change his approach. He stuck to playing safe cricket.
“Timing and composure at the crease. I wasn’t feeling desperate,” Kohli said. “When, as a batsman, you start taking pride in hitting those singles into the gaps, that’s when you know you’re playing good cricket.”
Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, praised Kohli’s chasing skills. “He’s arguably the best chaser the game has seen,” Smith said. “He controls the tempo of the game really well, plays to his strengths and takes the game deep.”
The pitches in Dubai have been tough for batsmen. They’re not easy to score runs on. However, Kohli has looked in complete control in every game. He’s been able to adapt to the conditions quickly.
“He’s a phenomenal one-day cricketer,” India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, said. “He knows how to adapt to conditions very quickly. That’s why experience and high-quality players are very important.”
Kohli came into the tournament with a lot of pressure. But he’s shown everyone that he’s still a world-class player. He’s proven his ability to chase down scores and adapt to difficult conditions.13 His performance in the Champions Trophy has been outstanding. He has shown his value to the indian team.
