DUBAI: Pakistan conceded defeat in a crucial match of the Champions Trophy without giving any challenge to India. Virat Kohli's century (in 111 balls) helped India reach the target of 242 runs with 4 wickets remaining. Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, who displayed a brilliant batting made things easy for India. While India secures its place in the semi-final with this win, Pakistan is on the verge of being eliminated from the tournament. The chances are very low for Pakistan to enter the last four in the list.

The Indian openers batted confidently towards the relatively low target of 242 runs. Rohit Sharma, who scored 20 runs from 15 balls with three fours and a six, was the first to go The Indian captain was clean bowled by a brilliant yorker from Shaheen Afridi. Vice-captain Shubman Gill, who scored 46 runs from 52 balls, was bowled by Abrar Ahmed. The Indian score was 100 for two when Gill was dismissed.

Later, the Shreyas Iyer-Virat Kohli partnership, who came together at the crease, batted carefully. Shreyas Iyer, who scored 56 runs off 67 balls, left the crease for a ball by Khushdil Shah, leaving India just 28 runs away from victory. Shreyas and Virat added 114 runs for the third wicket. Hardik Pandya, who came to the crease in the fifth position, was dismissed for 8(6). Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 3.

Defending champions Pakistan, who also lost to New Zealand in the first match, are in a precarious position. The hosts now have only one match left in the group stage, against Bangladesh. If the in-form New Zealand win their match against Bangladesh on Monday, Pakistan will be out of the tournament. Pakistan is facing the shame of being eliminated in the group stage of an ICC tournament being held on its home ground after 29 years.

Earlier, Pakistan, who won the toss and batted first, scored 241 runs from a strong position of 151 for two and were all out. After the dismissal of openers Imam-ul-Haq 10 (26) and Babar Azam 23 (26), Saud Shakeel 62 (76) and captain Mohammad Rizwan 46 (77) came next.

The 104-run partnership between the two gave hope to Pakistan fans. Later on, Khushdil Shah managed only 38 (39). Salman Ali Agha 19 (24), Tayyab Tahir 4 (6) and Shaheen Shah Afridi 0 (1) could not hold on. Naseem Shah scored 14 (16) runs and Haris Rauf 8 (7) runs while spinner Abrar Ahmed remained unbeaten.