India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets in their ICC Champions Trophy encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (February 23). While Pakistan elected to bat first and were bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs, riding on Virat Kohli's record-extending 51st ODI hundred and useful contributions from Shreyas Iyer (56) and Shubman Gill (46), the Men in Blue chased down their target with 45 balls to spare. India lost Rohit Sharma inside the powerplay with Shaheen Shah Afridi removing the Indian captain with a late-swinging yorker but that did not stop the Indian side from putting on a dominant show against the arch-rivals. The result has put Pakistan, who are hosting their first ICC event in 29 years but travelled to UAE to facilitate India matches after their government refused to send their team across the border, are on the verge of elimination and virtually out of the competition. Pakistan's 241 anchored by Shakeel's fifty Pakistan's innings, after choosing to bat first, was a tale of measured resistance against India's disciplined bowling attack, culminating in a competitive 241 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Early setbacks The innings suffered early jolts with the dismissals of Imam-ul-Haq (10) and Babar Azam (23). While Azam showed glimpses of his class with trademark cover drives off Harshit Rana and Hardik Pandya, his aggressive intent proved costly. Pandya, after being driven for a boundary, cleverly pulled his length back, inducing an edge to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Imam's run-out, attempting a risky single, with Axar Patel's direct hit from mid-on, left Pakistan precariously placed at 47-2. Pakistan's middle-order recovery Saud Shakeel (62 off 76 balls) and Mohammad Rizwan (46) steadied the innings with a crucial 104-run partnership for the third wicket. However, their partnership, while substantial, reflected the challenging conditions – at one point, both batsmen went 55 deliveries without finding the boundary. Bowling masterclass Kuldeep Yadav emerged as India's primary weapon, claiming 3/40. The left-arm wrist spinner's guile proved particularly effective in the middle overs, accounting for Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah. Late flourish for Pakistan Khushdil Shah's cameo (38 off 39 balls), including Pakistan's first six of the innings, provided crucial late impetus. His aggressive intent helped Pakistan post a fighting total on a progressively slowing surface but in the end it did not prove to be enough.Original Article