One of India’s biggest cricket stars, Virat Kohli, didn’t have the best start to the Champions Trophy 2025. In India’s opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai, Kohli was dismissed for just 22 runs from 38 balls. He fell to Bangladesh’s leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, which was a bit of a setback for the veteran player.
Wasim Akram’s playful jab at Virat Kohli
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram made a light-hearted comment during a post-match show on a Pakistani TV channel. When the host praised Kohli’s impressive record, Akram quipped, “If you want to talk about Kohli, you should watch Star Sports.” This cheeky remark, which came with a hearty laugh, entertained everyone on the panel. Although it appeared to be a fun poke at the Indian media’s focus on Kohli, Akram did acknowledge that the 36-year-old is still “one of the best” players in world cricket.
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India’s strong start against Bangladesh
Despite Kohli’s early exit, India started their Champions Trophy campaign impressively. The Indian team put Bangladesh in deep trouble at 35/5 during the powerplay, with their bowlers dominating the top order. However, a strong partnership between Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy for the sixth wicket helped Bangladesh reach a decent total. Mohammed Shami eventually broke the stand by dismissing Jaker Ali for 68, while Towhid Hridoy notched up his first ODI century.
Chasing 229 runs, India comfortably reached the target with 21 balls remaining. Shubman Gill was the star of the show, scoring his eighth ODI century and remaining unbeaten on 101 off 129 balls. He hit nine fours and two sixes and, with KL Rahul, built an 87-run partnership, which ensured Bangladesh never had a chance to bounce back.
