For Virat Kohli, making One Day International centuries had become second nature for five years, between the end of 2014 and 2019.In a throwback to that glorious run when he was an unstoppable force, especially while chasing a target, the former skipper produced a special innings at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.Up against him on Sunday night in the Champions Trophy were familiar foes Pakistan, who have been at the receiving end of many a Kohli masterpiece in the past. A sense of déjà vu must have descended on Mohammad Rizwan and his men when the right-hander blazed to a 51st ODI century, his first in the format since November 2023.From the time he offered a dead bat to his first ball from the slippery Naseem Shah, Kohli was in complete control, making what was a slightly two-paced surface appear like a shirtfront.The common factor in successive stands of 69 for the second wicket with Shubman Gill and 114 for the next with Shreyas Iyer, Kohli brought up a six-wicket victory and his own personal landmark with a seventh four of an innings of intelligence and industry, where quick running between the wickets and judicious placement of the ball brought him greater reward than sparkling strokeplay which too wasn’t at a premium.India lost a 12th successive ODI toss when Rohit Sharma called wrong, prompting Mohammad Rizwan to bat first. Pakistan didn’t have a great deal to show apart from an opening stand of 41 between Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq and a stabilizing 104-run third-wicket alliance between Saud Shakeel and the captain, though their 241 was hardly trifling."This innings took a lot out of me"Virat Kohli said his plan was to attack the pacers and take less risk against the spinners in the match against Pakistan on Sunday. Having steered the team home with a hundred, his 36-year-old body is happy to get a week-long break before the next game.“At 36, a week off is very good. It takes a lot out of me to put in that much effort,” he said, referring to the last Group A clash against New Zealand on March 2. He completed his 51st ODI hundred with a four off the last ball of the match.Heading into the high-stakes game, Kohli had his fair share of struggles against the spinners.“It feels good to bat in that manner in an important game, where a spot for semis was there to be taken, after Rohit (Sharma) fell (20 off 15 balls). My job was clear—to control the middle overs, not take risks against spinners, and take on pacers.“I was happy with the template, it’s how I play in ODIs,” said Kohli at the post-match presentation after scoring his fourth hundred against Pakistan.
