India has secured a place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final after a hard-fought 4-wicket victory over Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday. Virat Kohli, who played a crucial innings, was named Player of the Match.
India’s Successful Chase
Chasing a target of 265 runs, India reached 266/6 in 48.1 overs. Kohli led the charge with a brilliant 84 runs, while Shreyas Iyer added 45 runs. KL Rahul stayed unbeaten on 42 runs, guiding India to victory.
Among Australian bowlers, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took two wickets each, while Ben Dwarshuis and Cooper Connolly picked up one each.
Australia’s Competitive Total
Australia, missing several key players from their 2023 ODI World Cup-winning squad, fought hard despite the absence of stars like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis.
Batting first after winning the toss, they posted 264 runs in 49.3 overs.
- Steve Smith was the top scorer with 73 runs.
- Alex Carey played a vital knock of 61 runs.
- Travis Head contributed 39 runs, and Marnus Labuschagne scored 29 runs.
India’s Bowling Brilliance
Mohammed Shami once again proved his exceptional form in ICC tournaments, leading the Indian bowling attack with 3 wickets for 48 runs in 10 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy took 2 wickets for 49 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja also claimed 2 wickets. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel picked up one wicket each.
India’s Pitch Advantage
India had the edge as they played all their matches in this tournament in Dubai, gaining a better understanding of the conditions. On the other hand, Australia had played all their matches in Pakistan, making this their first game in Dubai. This difference played a key role in India’s performance.
What’s Next?
With this win, India moves to the final, where they will face the winner of the New Zealand vs. South Africa semifinal.
