KL Rahul’s frustration visible as Virat Kohli falls short of 52nd ODI century

Virat Kohli missed out on a potential 52nd ODI century as India secured a hard-fought 4-wicket victory over Australia to book their spot in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Tuesday. Kohli, who was batting fluently, was dismissed for 84 off 98 balls, hitting five fours. The star batter looked set to reach another milestone but played a lofted shot down the ground and handed an easy catch to Ben Dwarshuis at long-on off Adam Zampa's bowling in the 43rd over.

With India comfortably cruising towards the target of 265, KL Rahul, who was at the other end, had already taken charge of accelerating the chase. However, Kohli’s dismissal came as a surprise, as the team needed less than a run-a-ball to win. Rahul, visibly disappointed, was heard saying, "Main maar raha tha naa (I was playing the big shots)."

Rahul’s reaction to Kohli’s dismissal quickly went viral, with multiple social media accounts sharing the clip. The moment captured Rahul’s frustration, as he was already taking on the bowlers, and Kohli’s aggressive shot seemed unnecessary at that stage.

Watch the video here:

https://x.com/45kennyat7PM/status/1896949867458765046 

India’s chase led by key contributions

The Rohit Sharma-led side successfully chased down the 265-run target in 48.1 overs. Besides Kohli’s 84, crucial contributions from Shreyas Iyer (45), KL Rahul (42*), and Hardik Pandya (28) ensured India’s passage to the final. Rahul remained unbeaten and finished the game, showcasing his calmness under pressure.

Earlier in the match, India’s bowlers put up a disciplined performance, restricting Australia to 264. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 48, while Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with two wickets each. For Australia, Steve Smith was the top scorer, anchoring the innings with 73 off 96 balls.

With this win, India advanced to the Champions Trophy final, where they will face the winner of the South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final clash.

Kohli’s new records in Champions Trophy history

Despite missing out on his 52nd ODI century, Kohli added another record to his illustrious career. During the match, he became India's leading run-scorer in ICC Champions Trophy history, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan’s previous record of 701 runs in 10 games from 2013 to 2017.

Kohli’s tally in the tournament now stands as the highest among Indian players, surpassing even legendary figures like Sourav Ganguly, who had accumulated 665 runs in 13 matches from 1998 to 2004. The 36-year-old also notched up his 74th ODI half-century and overtook Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most fifty-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments. Kohli now has 24 such scores in 58 innings, surpassing Tendulkar’s 23 fifty-plus scores in as many innings in ICC ODI events.

With another remarkable performance under his belt, Kohli continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest batters in cricket history, setting the stage for an exciting final where India will look to clinch the coveted trophy.

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