Virat Kohli 51st Century: Last night, February 23, 2025, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium turned into Virat Kohli’s personal kingdom as he smashed his 51st ODI century—100* off 111 balls—to bury Pakistan by 6 wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India chased 242 with 45 balls to spare, and Kohli, at 36, shut down every doubter with a knock that was half grit, half goddamn artistry—7 fours, a boundary off khushdil to hit the ton, and to seal it. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement—Pakistan’s title defense is toast, and Kohli’s still the reigning King.
Let’s rip into his latest masterpiece, his history tearing Pakistan apart, his century haul, how he stacks against the legends, the X buzz (good and bad), the advice and flak he’s copped, and why he’s cricket’s undisputed ruler.
Last Night’s Masterclass: Virat Kohli 51st Century
The stage was set—India vs Pakistan, Group A, CT 2025, Dubai’s flat deck under lights. Pakistan posted 241—Saud Shakeel’s 62 and Mohammad Rizwan’s 46 too slow to matter—before Kuldeep Yadav’s 3/40 and Hardik Pandya’s 2/31 gutted them. India’s chase started shaky—Rohit Sharma’s 20 off 14 yorked by Shaheen Afridi (2/74)—but Kohli walked in at 28/1 and owned it.
Shubman Gill’s 46 (52 balls, 7 fours) fell to Abrar Ahmed’s carrom ball, Shreyas Iyer’s 56 (67 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) partnered Kohli for 114, but it was the King’s show. He crawled to 50 off 62 balls—smart, no risks against spin—then unleashed hell: cover drives off Haris Rauf, a flicked six off Shaheen to hit 100*, and a match-winning four off Naseem Shah in the 42.3rd over—244/4. Player of the Match, 14,000 ODI runs in 287 innings (fastest ever, beating Sachin’s 350), and India’s 2-0 in Group A. Pakistan? 0-2, smoked. Full rundown at ESPNcricinfo.
Kohli vs Pakistan: A Century-Laden Massacre
Kohli’s got Pakistan’s number—17 ODIs, 778 runs at 59.84, 4 centuries, 2 fifties. Last night’s 100* was his fourth ODI ton against them, and every time he’s faced them, it’s been a clinic. Here’s the carnage:
- 183 (148 balls, 2012 Asia Cup, Mirpur): Pakistan piled 329—Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul firing—but Kohli, 23 then, chased it solo. 22 fours, 1 six, 330/4 in 47.5 overs—India’s highest chase vs Pakistan. Dean Jones called it “one of the greatest ODI knocks ever” (Wikipedia).
- 107 (126 balls, 2015 World Cup, Adelaide): Pakistan’s 224 was chump change—Kohli’s ton, with Shikhar Dhawan’s 73, made it 300/7. First game, first ton, Pakistan cooked.
- 100 (108 balls, 2023 Asia Cup, Colombo): Pakistan’s 356 loomed—Kohli and KL Rahul (111*) chased it in 42 overs, 357/2. Unbeaten, ruthless—Pakistan’s bowlers cried.
Other gems? His 49 (2013 CT, Birmingham) was gritty in a rain-hit 102/2 chase, and that 82* off 52 (2022 T20 WC, Melbourne)—two sixes off Rauf, including the “Shot of the Century”—won it from 31/4 (Times of India). Last night’s 100* joins the pantheon—778 runs now, avg. 59.84, best 183.
Kohli’s Century Haul: 51 ODIs, 82 Total
Kohli’s 51 ODI tons—surpassing Sachin’s 49—span 298 innings, 27,503 international runs across 614 innings (avg. 52.38), with 82 centuries (30 Tests, 1 T20I). First ODI ton? 107 vs Sri Lanka, 2009, Kolkata. Biggest? 183 vs Pakistan, 2012. Fastest to milestones? 10,000 runs in 205 innings, 14,000 in 287—Sachin’s 321 and 350 lag behind (Indian Express).
Tests? 30 tons—first 115 vs Australia (2012, Adelaide), 7 doubles (most by a captain), 4 in a row (2017-18). T20I? 122* vs Afghanistan (2022 Asia Cup, Dubai)—ended a 1,021-day drought. His 50th ODI ton (2023 WC semi vs NZ, Mumbai) broke Sachin’s mark with the Little Master watching—117 off 113. Last night’s 51st? Controlled chaos—100* to bury Pakistan, 14,000 runs ticked off (Sportstar).
Compared to the Greats: Sachin, Ponting, Bradman, and Beyond
Kohli’s a statistical freak—let’s stack him up:
- Sachin Tendulkar: 100 int’l centuries (51 ODIs, 49 Tests), 34,357 runs (avg. 48.52). Kohli’s 82 tons in 614 inns vs Sachin’s 782—faster pace, higher avg. (52.38 vs 48.52). ODI king? Kohli’s 51 to 49 says yes (ESPNcricinfo).
- Ricky Ponting: 71 tons (30 ODIs, 41 Tests), 27,483 runs (avg. 45.95). Kohli’s past him in runs, centuries, and clutch factor—Ponting’s 2 WC wins edge leadership (ESPNcricinfo).
- Don Bradman: 29 Test tons, 6,996 runs (avg. 99.94). Kohli’s 30 Test tons don’t touch that avg., but 3 formats vs 1? No contest—modern GOAT (ESPNcricinfo).
- Viv Richards: 35 tons (11 ODIs, 24 Tests), 15,261 runs (avg. 49.84). Kohli’s aggression mirrors Viv, but volume and consistency crush it.
Ravi Shastri says 100 tons ain’t impossible—80 now, 36 years old, fitness like a 25-year-old (ICC). Sachin’s untouchable? Maybe not—Kohli’s chasing ghosts and catching them.
The X Buzz: Good Tweets, Bad Tweets
Last night’s 100* lit X on fire—here’s the unfiltered pulse (paraphrased sentiment, links where possible):
- Good: “Cometh the hour, cometh the King—Kohli’s 51st vs Pak is why he’s the GOAT” (@c_susim vibe, Feb 23). “51st ton, 14,000 runs—Kohli’s a superb phenomenon” (@Sportskeeda, Twitter).
- Bad: “Kohli’s just padding stats on flat tracks—where’s the fight?” (@RandomFan123 vibe, Feb 23). “51 tons, sure, but Pakistan’s bowling’s a joke—overrated” (@PakFanatic vibe, Feb 23).
Anushka Sharma’s Insta post—“👑❤️” with Kohli’s pic—melted hearts (Times Now). Pakistan’s trolls wept—India’s fans danced.
Advice and Criticism: The King’s Burden
Kohli’s a lightning rod—here’s the raw take:
- Advice: Ravi Shastri—keep the fitness, the hunger; 100 tons is yours (ICC). Rohit Sharma—stay you, finish games, we ain’t shocked (Indian Express). Kohli himself—“Control the middle, no risks vs spin” (post-match, Feb 23).
- Criticism: Aakash Chopra—Test form’s a worry, 2 tons in 5 years sucks (DNA India). X haters—“Overrated vs weak attacks” (Feb 23 sentiment). Shoaib Akhtar—“India’s too good, Pakistan’s brainless” (Business Standard).
He’s copped flak—2024’s 245 Test runs (avg. 27.22)—but last night’s 100* was a middle finger to the noise. Test slump? Sure. ODI god? Undeniable.
Why He’s the King: Stats, Clutch, Aura
Kohli’s the King because he’s a freak—51 ODI tons, 82 international, 27,503 runs—numbers that scream GOAT. Clutch? 23rd 50+ score in ICC ODI events, 4th vs Pakistan—183 in 2012, 82* in 2022 T20 WC, now 100* (Sky Sports). Aura? Dubai’s 25,000 chanted “Kohli! Kohli!”—Pakistan’s bowlers shrank.
He’s outpaced Sachin to 14,000 ODI runs, leads India to Test wins in Australia (2018-19), and at 36, runs like a 20-year-old. Fitness, prep, shot selection—Shastri calls it “unreal” (ICC). Last night, he fielded like a beast—2 catches, 158 ODI grabs, most by an Indian—then batted Pakistan into submission. King? He’s the real emperor.
Conclusion: Kohli’s Reign Rolls On
Last night’s 51st ODI century wasn’t just a win—it was Kohli telling Pakistan, the world, and time itself he’s still the boss. “India vs Pakistan CT 2025” is his playground—778 runs, 4 tons, and counting. Compared to Sachin, Ponting, Bradman—he’s in the pantheon, chasing 100. Love him or hate him, he delivers—X knows it, critics eat it, and fans worship it. What’s your call? King’s best ton vs Pakistan? Drop it below—let’s rage: Kohli at 36—how many more?
