Champions Trophy 2025: Shoaib Akhtar hails Virat Kohli’s match-winning knock against Pakistan

Former Pakistan gun fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar showered praise on Virat Kohli after the Indian veteran scored a match-winning knock against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday. 

Kohli scored an unbeaten knock of 100 off 111 balls in the run-chase of 242 runs. The right-hander looked at his absolute best from the get-go as he timed the ball to perfection and must have gained confidence after nailing a few cover drives.

Kohli also completed 14000 ODI runs with his trademark cover drive and got there in 287 innings, becoming the fastest batter to do so as he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record. The Master Blaster had reached the milestone in 350 innings and thus Kohli took 63 innings fewer than him.

Akhtar said in a video uploaded on X, “Again we all saw, if you tell Virat Kohli that he’s going to play against Pakistan, he will come fully prepared and score a century. Hats off to him, he’s like a superstar, he’s a white-ball run chaser, a modern-day great. There’s no doubt about that, I’m really happy for him as he’s an honest man.”

Akhtar is delighted for Virat Kohli and also wants the batter to complete 100 international centuries, a milestone only achieved by Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli’s century against Pakistan was his 82nd at the top level and his 51st in ODI format.

“He also completed his 14,000 runs in ODIs today, I hope he goes on to complete 100 international centuries in the future. I really want him to do that, I hope this guy gets it all. I’m really really happy for him. Wish him all the best and I think, he deserves all the praises seriously. The way he came out and played a flawless innings today.”

India will next take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on 2nd March.