In the first semi -final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 March 2025, Team India defeated Australia by 4 wickets to secure their place in the final. This victory became a memorable moment for Indian cricket fans, as it not only showed Team India’s great form, but also completed the revenge of the defeat to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Australia’s innings: target of 264 runs
The match began with Australian captain Steve Smith’s decision to win the toss and bat first. Australia scored 264 runs in 49.3 overs in their innings. Steve Smith played a brilliant innings of 73 runs, but the brilliant bowling of Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja stopped Australia from scoring a big score. Shami dismissed Smith, while Jadeja sent dangerous batsmen like Glenn Maxwell (7) and Josh English (11) to the pavilion. India’s spinners, especially Varun Chakraborty and Kuldeep Yadav, also kept pressure on the Australian batsmen in the middle overs.
India’s counter-innings: Kohli’s Kamal and Rahul-Pandya’s partnership, chasing the target of 265 runs, the Indian team started well. Captains Rohit Sharma (20) and Shubman Gill (8) added 30 runs for the first wicket, but Gill soon was dismissed by Ben Dwarhuis. After this, Rohit also went to LBW by Cooper Conliest, after which India’s score increased to 43/2. Then came Virat Kohli, who once again proved the image of his ‘Chase Master’ right. Kohli played a brilliant innings of 84 runs and took the team on the path of victory. Although he missed a century, his innings brought India to a strong position.
Shreyas Iyer (45) and Akshar Patel also made useful contribution, but as the match progressed, the Australian bowlers tried to return. India still needed 40 runs at 225/5, and then Hardik Pandya (28) and KL Rahul (42*) shared a significant partnership for the sixth wicket. Pandya reduced the pressure by hitting two sixes against Adam Jampa in the 48th over, although he was dismissed in the final over. After this, KL Rahul finished the match with a brilliant six and won India with a score of 267/6.
Captain Rohit Sharma impressed everyone with his strategy in this match. The team maintained balance in every situation due to six bowling options and depth in batting. Rohit later said, “To reach the final, it is necessary for all the players to be in form, and it gives us confidence.” With this victory, Rohit has become the first captain who took India to the finals of all ICC tournaments (World Test Championship, ODI Cup, T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy).
Virat Kohli broke several records in this match. He overtook Ricky Ponting (160) in terms of taking the most catches in ODIs and now he has 161 catches. In addition, he became the first batsman to complete 8000 runs in Chase. Kohli was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his brilliant innings. India also retained the record of their 3–0 win against Australia in the Champions Trophy knockout.
With this victory, India has reached the final of the Champions Trophy for the third consecutive time. Now the team will take on the winner of the second semi-finals between New Zealand and South Africa in the final to be held in Dubai on 9 March 2025. The last time the Indian team, which won the Champions Trophy in 2013, has a golden opportunity to win the title once again.
Team India performed brilliantly in this match to experience experience, skill and pressure. Kohli’s batting, Rahul and Pandya’s finishing, and the restraint of the bowlers brought India to the threshold of another ICC title. Now the eyes of fans are on the finals, where India will have a chance to create history. Jai Hind!
