Tendulkar, Shoaib, Ganguly in awe; Rizwan stunned by Kohli’s CT masterclass
Virat Kohli delivered another masterclass in the format that made him a star. India crushed Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai on Sunday, securing a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy semifinals. Facing challenges, Kohli timed his innings perfectly. He sealed the victory with the winning runs, marking his 51st career century and fourth against Pakistan.
Cricket legends showered praise on Kohli. He silenced critics once again, proving he still dominates on the big stage.
Sachin Tendulkar led the celebrations. The Indian legend hailed Kohli and India’s clinical performance. He tweeted, “A perfect ending to the most awaited match. A real knockout! Team India! Superb knocks by @imVkohli, @ShreyasIyer15, and @ShubmanGill, and wonderful bowling by our bowlers, especially @imkuldeep18 and @hardikpandya7!”
Sourav Ganguly echoed the praise. He highlighted India’s dominance over Pakistan, writing, “Expected win for India… far superior team with far superior intent with bat and ball… super stuff from Kohli, Gill, and Shreyas and the bowling @bcci.”
Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan’s legendary pacer, had predicted Kohli’s comeback. After the match, he expressed admiration for Kohli’s hunger for runs. Akhtar called him a “modern-day great” and hoped he would match Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries.
“Give Virat Kohli a match against Pakistan, and he will come prepared to score a century,” Akhtar said in a video on X. “Hats off to him! He’s a superstar, a white-ball run chaser, a modern great. He also completed 14,000 ODI runs today. I hope he reaches 100 centuries. He deserves it. The way he played a flawless innings today was simply brilliant.”
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan also acknowledged Kohli’s brilliance. He admitted that Kohli outclassed their attack despite their best efforts.
“Mai Virat Kohli ki mehnat se hairan hu (I am in awe of his hard work),” Rizwan said. “Everyone said he was out of form. But in the biggest match, he made runs with ease, won the game, and took the Man of the Match award. We tried everything to get him out, but he found a way. His fitness and dedication are remarkable.”
Kohli once again proved why he thrives under pressure. With India in top form, the road to the Champions Trophy final looks promising.
