Star Indian batter Virat Kohli was at the peak of his prowess during the recent clash between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025. However, the thrill and excitement of seeing Kohli bat could have been over early for the fans had Pakistani players made a consequential appeal which changed the course of the match.
Sunil Gavaskar furious at Virat Kohli for obstructing the field
During India’s run chase in their recent clash against Pakistan in Dubai, Kohli narrowly escaped an ‘obstructing the field’ dismissal. After comfortably crossing the non-striker’s crease, Kohli casually stopped a throw from the Pakistan fielder with his hand. While he was safe at the time and didn’t think much of it, legendary Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was critical, warning that Kohli could have been out if any Pakistani player had appealed. According to the laws, a batter can be dismissed for obstructing the field if they wilfully attempt to distract or obstruct the fielding side. This includes striking the ball with a hand not holding the bat, as outlined in Law 37 of the MCC rules.
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Kohli paved the way for India’s dominant win over Pakistan
In one of the most highly anticipated contest between the arch-rivals and with his age and vulnerabilities more apparent than ever, Kohli delivered a masterclass that proved he’s far from finished. He reached a monumental 14,000 runs in ODI cricket, scored his 51st ODI century, and played a pivotal role in securing India’s semi-final spot, effectively putting Pakistan’s hopes in jeopardy for the Champions Trophy. The defending champions and hosts now find themselves relying on other results to stay in contention, as Kohli’s performance along with notable contributions from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya solidified India’s dominance and their march towards the next stage of the tournament. India is set to play New Zealand in the final group stage clash of the Champions Trophy 2025.
