'Chase Master' Kohli earns praise after steering India close to Champions glory

'Chase Master' Kohli Leads India to Third Consecutive Champions Trophy Final

Virat Kohli was widely hailed as the "chase master" on Wednesday after his signature innings powered India into their third successive Champions Trophy final.

Kohli played a composed knock of 84 runs, guiding India close to their target of 265 in the semi-final against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday. When the 36-year-old was dismissed, India required just 40 runs from 44 balls, comfortably sealing victory with 11 deliveries to spare.

India will now face either South Africa or New Zealand in Sunday’s final in Dubai. During his innings, Kohli reached the milestone of 8,000 runs in ODI chases, following his unbeaten century that had helped India chase down 242 against Pakistan earlier in the tournament.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag praised Kohli’s remarkable consistency, stating on Cricbuzz:
"He has around 30-40 centuries while chasing, the most runs while chasing, and that’s why he’s called the ‘chase master.’ This chase was effortless for him—he smiled through it."

Kohli now has 8,063 runs at an astounding average of 64.50 when batting second in ODIs, second only to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who amassed 8,720 runs at an average of 42.33.

Against Australia, Kohli displayed his trademark ability to pace an innings, hitting only five boundaries but keeping the scoreboard moving with swift singles and twos. Former England captain Nasser Hussain highlighted Kohli’s skill in reducing dot balls, noting on Sky Sports:
"At one point, he had 23 singles and a two in 25 deliveries. He keeps the scoreboard ticking and forces the opposition to rethink their field placements."

‘The Best Chaser’

Australia captain Steve Smith acknowledged Kohli’s dominance in run chases:
"He's arguably the best chaser the game has ever seen. He has done it countless times against us. He controls the tempo brilliantly, plays to his strengths, and takes the game deep."

Kohli’s innings marked his 74th ODI half-century in 301 matches since his debut in 2008. Across all three international formats, he has scored 82 centuries. He was on track for another hundred before being caught at long-on off Adam Zampa while attempting a big shot.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir commended Kohli's exceptional game awareness:
"He is a phenomenal one-day player. He plans his innings meticulously, whether setting a target or chasing, and adapts quickly to conditions."

Leading into the tournament, both Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma faced speculation about retirement due to inconsistent Test performances. However, they silenced doubts with their performances, having previously retired from T20Is after India's World Cup triumph last year.

Gambhir dismissed concerns over their form, emphasizing their proven track record in ODIs:
"A lean patch in Test cricket doesn’t mean they won’t deliver in the 50-over format. They have been exceptional in ODIs for years and always rise to the occasion in major tournaments."

India, having previously won the Champions Trophy in 2002 and 2013, now stand one step away from their third title.