Champions Trophy: Kohli on match-winning 84 vs Australia - Milestones are insignificant
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Synopsis
In a thrilling semifinal match of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli played a crucial role in India's victory over Australia. Despite falling short of a century, he emphasized that milestones are not his focus anymore. Kohli's innings helped India secure their place in the finals, showcasing his adaptability and strategic play.
Key Takeaways
- Virat Kohli emphasizes that milestones are secondary to winning.
- Kohli achieved his 74th ODI half-century in the match.
- India has reached the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time.
- Kohli became the highest run-scorer for India in Champions Trophy history.
- Strategic partnerships were key to India's successful chase.
Dubai, March 4 (NationPress) As he has done numerous times, the legendary Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in guiding India to victory against Australia in the semifinal of the 2025 Champions Trophy. The 36-year-old came within 16 runs of achieving his 52nd ODI century but stated that milestones ‘don’t matter anymore’ in the grand scheme of the game. With the target nearing and K.L. Rahul beginning to find the boundaries, Kohli unexpectedly got out while attempting to hit a six off Adam Zampa.
“I don't know. That is up to you guys to analyze. I've never concentrated on those aspects. When you disregard those milestones, they tend to occur. If I reach the three-figure mark, fantastic, but securing the win is vital. For me, those things hold little significance now,” Kohli expressed in the post-match discussion.
Kohli notched up his 74th ODI half-century and became the leading run-scorer for India in Champions Trophy history, exceeding Shikhar Dhawan's record of 701 runs accumulated over 10 matches from 2013 to 2017.
Following the early exit of Shubman Gill, Kohli formed partnerships of 91, 44, and 47 runs with Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Rahul, propelling India into their fifth Champions Trophy final, the highest in the tournament's history.
Despite hitting only five boundaries, Kohli was content with rotating the strike, recognizing that it was essential given the challenging batting conditions.
“It was quite similar to the other day against Pakistan. It's about grasping the conditions and rotating the strike since partnerships on this pitch are crucial. Everything hinges on the situation, and then I construct my innings. My timing and composure at the crease were steady. The singles I took were the most satisfying aspect for me. This game revolves around pressure. If you delve deep into the game, the opposition typically falters. It's crucial to manage your urges. Even if the run rate is six an over, I remain unfazed,” he stated.
With this victory, India has become the first team to qualify for the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time. They will face the winner of the second semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand in Dubai on March 9.
