Virat Kohli delivered another masterclass in a high-pressure chase, guiding India to the Champions Trophy final with a composed 84 off 98 balls in Dubai. His innings helped India chase down 265 against defending ODI World Cup champions Australia on a challenging pitch.
Kohli emphasized the importance of staying calm under pressure. “Big games like semis and finals are all about handling pressure. If you have wickets in hand and go deep, the opposition usually falters,” he said after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. He focused on maintaining control, calculating required runs per over, and ensuring partnerships to keep India in the game.
Coming in at 30 for 1 in the fifth over, Kohli stitched crucial partnerships—91 runs with Shreyas Iyer, 44 with Axar Patel, and 47 with KL Rahul—before Rahul and Hardik Pandya completed the chase. His innings was built on strike rotation, with 56 of his 84 runs coming in singles. He hit just five fours and no sixes, adjusting his game to the conditions.
Kohli compared this knock to his earlier innings against Pakistan, where he also relied on singles to build momentum. “On this pitch, partnerships matter the most. I just switch on and play according to conditions,” he explained.
His only aggressive shot came in the 43rd over when he attempted to clear long-on off Adam Zampa but found the fielder. “I wasn’t desperate; I was happy rotating strike. Taking pride in singles means you’re playing good cricket,” he added.
India now awaits the winner of the New Zealand-South Africa semi-final, with the final set for Sunday in Dubai.
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