'Lahore Would've Celebrated It ': Ex-Pakistan Batsman Acknowledges Virat Kohli's Stardom, Ends Comparison With Babar Azam

Champions Trophy 2025: 'Drought Ends In Desert', this is how one can summarize Virat Kohli's 51st ODI ton. The 'Chasemaster' brought up his 51st ODI ton after a span of 465 days. Virat surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 49 ODI hundreds and became the first-ever player to hit 50 ODI centuries in the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Kohli's masterclass in Dubai, helped the Indian team win the IND vs PAK Champions Trophy game by six wicket.

Kohli broke few other records as well. He surpassed former India cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin to become the Indian player with most catches in ODIs. Kohli, now has 157 grabs to his name. He also became the fastest-ever batsman to hit 14000 ODI runs. Kohli is now the first and the only batsman to score more than 50 centuries in One Day Internationals.

ALSO READ | Wasim Akram's VIRAL 'Tu Gareeb Hai' Remark to Explain Poor State of PAK Cricket After Champions Trophy 2025 Loss vs IND

Rashid Latif's Big Remark On Virat Kohli

The ongoing Champions Trophy is being played in a 'Hybrid Model' and India are scheduled to play all their matches in Dubai. The first semi-final of the Champions Trophy will be played in Dubai and if India qualify for the summit clash then it will also move out of Pakistan and will be played in Dubai.

After Virat Kohli scored his 51st ODI ton in Dubai, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif said that if Kohli had scored a century in Lahore, the crowd would've celebrated it like crazy. There is always a comparison between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam . People on both sides of the border support their favourite stars and it is a fan war that refuses to die down. Rashid Latif with his comment in many ways has ended the Babar vs Virat debate.

'This Virat Kohli century should have come in Lahore, and not in Dubai. Had Kohli scored it against Pakistan in Lahore, the crowd in Lahore would have celebrated it like crazy. Kohli would have thought he's playing in India', said Latif.

ALSO READ | 'Enough Is Enough': Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik And Wasim Akram Lambast Pakistan Team Management

India Inflict Yet Another Heartbreak On Pakistan

India and Pakistan have faced each other 14 times in ICC events and have beaten their arch-rivals 11 times. This is a testament to India's dominance on Pakistan. The 'Men in Blue' defeated Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai and virtually knocked them out of the Champions Trophy. India on the other hand have secured a place in the semi-finals and are waiting for their opponents who will challenge them in the knockout game.

ALSO READ | Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik And Wasim Akram Lambast Pakistan Team Management