‘What did we do to him,’ Pakistanis ask as Virat Kohli gets into beast mode every time against arch-rivals

India run-machine Virat Kohli has solidified his status as Pakistan's nemesis with 678 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 52.15, including three centuries and two fifties. His latest unbeaten 100 in the 2025 Champions Trophy marked his fifth match-winning chase against Pakistan across formats.

He is the first batter to score ODI centuries against Pakistan in the World Cup (107* in 2015), Champions Trophy (100* in 2025), and Asia Cup (183 in 2012). In T20Is, his iconic 82* off 53 balls during the 2022 World Cup remains etched in cricketing history.

Kohli’s Heroics Left Pakistanis Frustrated:

His heroics have left Pakistani cricket fans frustrated who are confused as to how King Kohli goes into beast mode every time he plays against Pakistan. A Pakistani social media user has sparked a debate after he asked if they have done anything to hurt him, that he is taking revenge every time.

Why does this Virat Kohli fella always perform against us.. What did we do to hurt him, genuinely asking

— Abdullah (@michaelscottfc) February 23, 2025

“Why does this Virat Kohli fella always perform against us... What did we do to hurt him, genuinely asking,” the X user shared. As expected, his post has gone viral with hilarious response from India cricket fans and Virat Kohli fans.

“Stop comparing him with Babar if you want to win some day,” a fan hilariously wrote. Another user wrote, “Baap hai woh tumhara, then, now, next, always forever.” “Jahan matter bade hote hain, wahan King Kohli khade hote hain,” shared another fan.

Technical Mastery Against Pakistani Bowling:

Former batting coach Sanjay Bangar analyzed Kohli's adaptive technique during his century against Pakistan: He initially played spinners off the back foot before advancing confidently. This approach neutralized Pakistan's spin trio of Shadab Khan (economy 4.8) and Mohammad Nawaz (0/42). 

Against pace, Kohli maintained a 92% control rate against Shaheen Afridi's 143kph deliveries, showcasing improved footwork against left-arm pace—a previous vulnerability.

Psychological Edge in High-Stakes Games:

Kohli's mental preparation includes arriving an hour early for net sessions before Pakistan clashes. His mantra of 'keeping outside noise away' and '100% focus per ball' has yielded eight Player-of-the-Match awards in Indo-Pak matches. Former coach Ravi Shastri notes this stems from treating every delivery as 'career-defining,' particularly evident when he scored 72% of his runs through midwicket and covers during pressure situations.

Legacy in ICC Tournaments:

With this century—his first in the Champions Trophy—Kohli now has tournament centuries across all formats: T20 World Cup (2014 & 2016), ODI World Cup (2011 & 2015), and Champions Trophy (2025). His strike rate of 98.2 in knockout matches against Pakistan exceeds his career ODI SR of 93.2.