IND vs PAK, Champions Trophy: Abrar Ahmed gives cheeky send-off to Shubman Gill after dismissing him (WATCH)

Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed gave a cheeky send-off to Team India vice-captain Shubman Gill after dismissing him during Champions Trophy 2025 Group A clash between two-arch rivals at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, February 23. 

After Rohit Sharma’s dismissal at Shubman Gill took charge of India’s 242-run chase while taking on Pakistan bowlers to the cleaners, especially Shaheen Afridi. Gill smashed Afridi for five fours across two overs. The right-handed batter was looking in good rhythm and was on the course for another half-century until Abrar Ahmed ended his stay at the crease, giving another breakthrough for Pakistan. 

Also read: IND vs PAK, Champions Trophy 2025: Kohli shatters Tendulkar's world record as he completes 14,000 ODI runs

The dismissal took place in the 18th over of India’s run-chase when Shubman Gill was looking to block the ball off Abrar Ahmed’s carrom ball delivery. However, the ball took a sharp turn and squared up Team India vice-captain. Gill was left stunned by a sharp turn as the ball crashed into the stumps. While Shubman Gill was leaving the pitch, Abrar Ahmed gave a cheeky reaction to him by gesturing ‘get lost’ with a face pointing towards the dressing room. Even Virat Kohli was impressed with Abar’s delivery. 

Watch: Abrar Ahmed’s send-off to Shubman Gill 

Shubman Gill has been in brilliant form in recent matches. In India’s opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh, Gill played an unbeaten knock of 101 off 112 balls in a 229-run chase. It was his second consecutive ODI century after his masterclass innings of 112 off 102 balls in the third and final ODI of the series against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last week.

Gill entered into the Champions Trophy on the back of impressive performance in the ODI series against England, where he was the highest run-getter with 259 runs, including a century and two fifties, at an average of 86.22 in three matches.

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer shared century partnership

After Shubman Gill’s dismissal, Virat Kohli was joined by Shreyas Iyer at the crease to carry on India’s run-chase. The pair frustrated the Pakistan bowlers with their batting and formed a 114-run partnership for the third wicket until Iyer was dismissed for 56 off 76 balls at 214/3. Then, Hardik Pandya joined Virat Kohli at the crease, but the former had a little stay as he was dismissed for 8 off 6 balls at 223/4. Thereafter, Kohli was joined by Axar Patel at the crease to carry on India’s innings. 

However, the Indian cricket fans who were present at the stadium wanted to witness Kohli notching up a century. Kohli played a composed knock and he was on 96 when India needed just two runs to complete the 242-run chase.

On the third ball of Khushdil Shah’s delivery, Kohli hit a boundary through a wide cover that not only completed his 51st ODI century but also took the team past the finishing line. The star batter received a big applause from the Indian teammates in the dressing room and the crowd at the Dubai International Stadium as he raised up his bat and got soaked in the reception. 

With a six-wicket win over Pakistan, Team India almost sealed their semifinal spot and will take on New Zealand in the final group stage match on March 2, Sunday. 

Also read: IND vs PAK, Champions Trophy: Shaheen Afridi shatters Rohit Sharma's stumps with a brilliant yorker (WATCH)