Mohammad Rizwan surprised by Virat Kohli after Aaqib Javed claimed Pakistan will surprise India

Pakistan National Cricket Team captain Mohammad Rizwan has showered rich praise on Virat Kohli after the Indian batting icon silenced his critics in style with an incredible knock in the high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy 2025 showdown in Dubai on Sunday (February 23).

Mohammad Rizwan could only watch in disbelief as Virat Kohli once again proved his class and why he thrives on the biggest stage and in the high-voltage India-Pakistan matches.

With the world questioning his form, Kohli delivered a masterclass, effortlessly making a mockery of Pakistan’s bowling attack to notch an unbeaten century and guiding India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai.

Mohammad Rizwan in awe of Virat Kohli’s brilliance as India destroys Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash

The dashing right-handed batter became the first player in the world to have smashed centuries against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, and ICC Champions Trophy with his match-winning 100* off 111 balls in the group match on Sunday in Dubai.

Virat knows how to score quickly without looking for big shots and he did it in a style against Pakistan.

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Kohli was involved in two crucial partnerships, adding 69 runs with Shubman Gill (46) for the second wicket and then 114 runs with Shreyas Iyer (56) for the third wicket to set the platform for an easy win for the Men in Blue against Pakistan.

He batted till the end and was adjudged Player of the Match for yet another memorable innings against Pakistan on the big stage.

He must have worked so hard: Rizwan hails Kohli

Mohammad Rizwan said at the post-match press conference, “First, let's talk about Virat Kohli. I am surprised at his hard work. He must have worked so hard. The world says he is out of form, but he comes to such big matches, which the world is waiting for, and he easily hits the ball—and this is where we don't want to give him runs. But he plays and gets away from us, and he gets the runs off the ball.”

Rizwan admitted that the Pakistan team worked hard to get Kohli out, but the Indian batter’s unmatched fitness and sheer determination left his bowlers only searching for answers. Praising the former Indian skipper’s sheer brilliance and approach, the Pakistani skipper admitted that their plans to stop him fell apart as he took the game away from them with supreme confidence.

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Mohammad Rizwan praises Virat Kohli's fitness

The Pakistan captain signed off by saying, “I will definitely praise his fitness level and hard work, the way he has done it. Because he is a cricketer and we are also cricketers. We tried very hard to get him out, but he took the game away. He has done a lot of hard work. The whole world said he was out of form, but he did it in this big match.”

With this win, India’s semifinals fate is sealed while Pakistan’s journey in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all but ended. Now, Rizwan’s team’s fate depends on their final group match against Bangladesh as well as the India versus New Zealand clash in the tournament.