Virat Kohli played another Key role in a crucial run chase against Australia to secure a four-wicket win against Australia and secure a berth in finals of the Champions Trophy 2025.
His 84 runs off 98 deliveries helped them to chase down 265 runs against Australia on spin conditions.
Coming to bat in the 5th over itself, he gripped his stance at the crease till the 43rd over helping the side to cross 200+ runs. He was awarded with the player of the Match.
While speaking in the post-match conference, Virat Kohli said, “This game is all about pressure, especially big games like semis and finals, and if you go deep into the innings, and you have enough wickets in hand, the opposition usually gives in, and the game becomes easier.”
“It’s very important to control your impulses while the game is going on.”
“For me, what’s important is to know the number of overs and the number of runs left, even if the gap’s 25-30 and it comes to six an over, I’m not bothered if we have seven or six wickets in hand, because then you know, two set batters and we can turn the game around.”
Virat Kohli turned up once again when it mattered – this time with a half-century in a chase in the semi-final against Australia 👏
He wins the @aramco POTM award 🎖️ #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/0wd9zT1Ym8
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2025
“The opposition can only come into the game with wickets. That was the plan out there.” Virat Kohli’s 91 run partnership with Shreyas Iyer has been the key role in India’s chase.
He also partnered with Axar Patel and KL Rahul respectively took India close to victory before Rahul and Hardik played their final knocks.
Meanwhile Kohli’s knock had only five fours and no sixes, and his fifty six runs comes off from singles.
“It was pretty similar to the other day against Pakistan. That was about seven fours when I got to the hundred.”
“For me, it’s about understanding the conditions, preparing my game accordingly, just rotating strike because partnerships – on this pitch – are the most important thing.”
“My only effort that day and today was to string in enough partnerships. It’s all dependent on the conditions, the pitch tells me how the cricket needs to be played and I just switch on and play accordingly.”
“My timing, the composure at the crease, I wasn’t feeling desperate. I was happy knocking ones around. 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.”
Kohli did not chase boundaries up until 43rd over, when he backed himself against Adam Zampa’s delivery where he got dismissed.
“My timing, the composure at the crease, I wasn’t feeling desperate,” Kohli said. “I was happy knocking ones around”.
“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, and you know you’re in for a big partnership, settle the nerves down a little bit and head towards chasing the total down.”
“That, for me, in the game against Pakistan and today, was the most pleasing thing for me.”
With India headed to the finals, the second finalist will be decided with the clash between New Zealand and South Africa played on March 05 at Lahore.
