Once again, in the latest anti-climax in this bitter rivalry that has major ramifications beyond the cricket field, the blockbuster between India and Pakistan was disappointingly one-sided.

Like they have for many years, mighty India completely dominated and swept to a convincing victory in the Champions Trophy. Apart from a decent start with the bat from Pakistan, India dictated and about the only bit of intrigue was whether superstar Virat Kohli would make a century.

With the help of a bit of manipulation from his teammates, not for the first time, Kohli reached his century with a boundary that sealed India’s triumph in a return to form for cricket’s biggest superstar after a torrid time in Australia.

But that horrid performance was in Test cricket, where his technique and declining reflexes came under fire. And, truth be told, it’s a format where Kohli is not anywhere near the GOAT like he is in the shorter forms.

Kohli underlined why he is the best to ever do it in the 50-over format. Viv Richards was the first great One-Day batter with his belligerent batting foreshadowing what was ahead, while Sachin Tendulkar’s longevity and dominance during the format’s heyday puts him in the discussion.

But Kohli has the edge due to his astonishing continual brilliance chasing, mastering being there at the finish. This was not one of his hardest chases, but Kohli still made the target of 242 look far easier than it was given the sheer amount of hype every time India and Pakistan play each other on the cricket field.

They don’t play bilateral cricket against each other due to political tensions leaving the rivalry consigned to global tournaments. Some events – like the Asia Cup and now this resurrected Champions Trophy – essentially solely exist for the purpose of milking the money-spinning contest that generates a windfall.

These highly populated countries combine more than 1.6 billion people, many of whom are cricket obsessed. Contests between them are watched by a viewership of between 300 million to 500 million.

Even though the contest is becoming more regular, with the teams always purposely drawn in the same group of these events, fans just can’t get enough of it.

Tickets for the latest match were sold out within minutes. The cheapest tickets were priced at $136, while the most expensive cost more than $1300.

ForbesTicket Demand Spikes For India-Pakistan Champions Trophy Cricket BlockbusterBy Tristan Lavalette

It’s on the back of their last meeting in New York at June’s T20 World Cup where hospitality tickets resold at an astronomical price of $2500-$10,000.

But the match did not take place in Pakistan, who are hosting their first major cricket event in almost 30 years. Instead it was held in the sterile surrounds of Dubai due to strict policy from the nationalistic Indian government that does not allow its sports teams to travel to Pakistan.

In what is a major compromise for the tournament, making a mockery of the whole thing, India are based in Dubai – with the UAE having to step up as co-host amid threats of an Indian boycott – and are the only team with the luxury of being in the same country throughout the tournament.

Ironically, further angering those who believe the entire sport is bent to India’s whims, India have the home ground edge in a tournament that Pakistan is hosting. And at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the sold-out crowd dotted in a sea of blue, the loudest cheers were reserved for Kohli who tortured Pakistan yet again.