In a thrilling semi-final encounter at the Dubai International Stadium, India secured a spot in the Champions Trophy final for a record third time after defeating Australia by four wickets.
The victory was marked by exceptional performances from both the batting and bowling departments.
India’s chase of Australia’s 264 runs was spearheaded by Virat Kohli, who scored an impressive 84 runs, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most 50-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments. Kohli’s innings, coupled with explosive contributions from KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, took India close to the finishing line. Although Hardik Pandya was dismissed in the final moments, Rahul’s composed batting ensured India crossed the line.
Australia’s innings was anchored by Steve Smith, who scored 73 runs, but a disciplined bowling effort from the Indian team restricted their total. Mohammed Shami stood out with figures of 3 for 48, supported by Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja, who picked up two wickets each.
Key moments of the match included Kohli’s record-breaking innings, India’s disciplined bowling, and Pandya’s explosive batting towards the end. With this victory, India enters the final of the Champions Trophy, eyeing their third title.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Champions Trophy 2025 progresses!
