India vs Australia Semi-Final Highlights: Kohli’s Brilliance Seals India’s Spot in Champions Trophy 2025 Final
India edged past Australia by four wickets in a thrilling semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 4, 2025. With this victory, India advanced to the final, where they await the winner of the South Africa vs New Zealand semi-final.
Australia’s Innings: A Steady Start but an Underwhelming Finish
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Australia aimed to set up a challenging total. However, their batting lineup failed to capitalize on a solid start, managing 264/9 in 50 overs.
Top Performers for Australia:
Steve Smith (73 off 97 balls): Played the anchor role, holding the innings together despite wickets falling around him.
Alex Carey (61 off 54 balls): Accelerated the scoring rate in the middle overs with timely boundaries.
Travis Head (41 off 38 balls): Gave Australia an aggressive start but couldn’t convert it into a big score.
Indian Bowling Brilliance:
Jasprit Bumrah (3/42 in 10 overs): Proved to be India’s best bowler, delivering crucial breakthroughs, including the dismissal of Smith.
Kuldeep Yadav (2/46 in 10 overs): Used his variations effectively to dismantle Australia’s middle order.
Hardik Pandya (1/35 in 8 overs): Contributed with tight overs, controlling the scoring rate in the death overs.
Despite a promising start, Australia failed to finish strong, losing quick wickets in the last 10 overs and falling short of the 280+ total they were aiming for.
India’s Chase: Kohli’s Masterclass Guides a Nervy Run Chase
Chasing 265, India lost two early wickets, with Rohit Sharma (12) and Shubman Gill (21) departing inside the first 10 overs. However, Virat Kohli (84 off 98 balls) played a mature innings, ensuring India remained in control throughout the chase.
Key Partnerships:
Virat Kohli & Shreyas Iyer (91-run partnership): Stabilized India’s innings after early setbacks.
Virat Kohli & KL Rahul (54-run stand): Took India closer to victory before Kohli was dismissed.
KL Rahul & Hardik Pandya (Unbeaten 42-run stand): Finished the chase with calm and precision.
Australia’s Bowling Effort:
Josh Hazlewood (2/44 in 10 overs): Struck early, removing both Indian openers.
Adam Zampa (1/48 in 9 overs): Kept things tight in the middle overs.
Mitchell Starc (1/52 in 9 overs): Bowled well but lacked support from the other end.
India sealed the match in the 49th over, winning by four wickets with 11 balls to spare. KL Rahul’s unbeaten 42 off 38 balls provided the finishing touch.
Key Takeaways from the Match
1. Virat Kohli – The Chase Master Strikes Again
Kohli’s innings was a testament to his ability to handle pressure. He played risk-free cricket, focusing on strike rotation and partnerships rather than big shots. His composure helped India chase down the total efficiently.
2. India’s Tactical Bowling Excellence
Bumrah and Kuldeep set the tone by keeping Australia in check throughout the innings. Hardik Pandya’s all-round performance (1/35 & 23*) played a crucial role as well.
3. Australia’s Missed Opportunities Dropped catches and misfields cost Australia dearly. Their lower-order collapse also prevented them from setting a match-winning total.
4. Venue Advantage for India? The decision to play all their matches in Dubai worked in India’s favor, as they were familiar with the pitch conditions, unlike Australia, who played their previous matches in different venues.
What’s Next?
With this win, India enters the Champions Trophy 2025 final, where they will face either South Africa or New Zealand on March 7, 2025 in Dubai. Australia’s journey ends here, and they will have to reflect on what went wrong in this high-pressure encounter.
The cricket world now eagerly awaits the final showdown—can India lift another ICC trophy und
er Rohit Sharma’s captaincy? Stay tuned for an electrifying climax to the tournament!