Sports - March 4, 2025

India Storm into ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final After Thrilling Win Over Australia

team maverick March 4, 2025

0 9 min read

Hyderabad : Team India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, has continued its dominant run in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by securing a hard-fought victory over Australia in the semi-final. The match, played at the Dubai International Stadium, saw India chase down a challenging target of 265 runs, winning by four wickets and booking their place in the final. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy extended their congratulations to the team for their outstanding performance.

India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa, which is scheduled for March 5 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The grand finale will be held in Dubai on March 9.

Australia Sets a Competitive Target

Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Travis Head and Cooper Connolly started cautiously, but Connolly struggled to get going and was dismissed for a duck in the third over, caught by KL Rahul off Mohammed Shami’s bowling. Head provided some momentum, scoring 39 off 33 balls, but was sent back after being caught by Shubman Gill off Varun Chakravarthy.

Marnus Labuschagne added a crucial 29 off 36 balls before falling to Jadeja, while wicketkeeper Alex Carey played a significant role in stabilizing Australia’s innings. His 61-run knock, along with a vital 73-run contribution from Steve Smith, helped Australia reach a respectable total. However, the Indian bowlers tightened their grip towards the latter half of the innings. Glenn Maxwell, a known game-changer, managed only seven runs before being bowled by Axar Patel. The tailenders struggled as Australia lost four wickets in the final five overs, adding just 29 runs before being bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs.

Shami was India’s standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 48 runs in his 10 overs. Chakravarthy and Jadeja took two wickets each, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya chipped in with one wicket apiece, ensuring Australia could not build a massive total.

India’s Chase: Kohli and Rahul Shine

Chasing 265 for victory, India faced early setbacks. Shubman Gill was the first to fall, scoring just eight runs before being bowled by Ben Dwarshuis. Soon after, captain Rohit Sharma, who had scored a brisk 28 off 25 balls, was trapped LBW by Cooper Connolly, leaving India at a precarious 43/2 in the eighth over.

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then stabilized the innings with a much-needed partnership of 91 runs off 111 balls. Iyer, looking comfortable, was eventually bowled by Adam Zampa for 45, missing out on a half-century. Kohli, however, continued to anchor the innings and brought up his fifty in 54 balls.

Axar Patel contributed a quick 27 runs before being bowled by Nathan Ellis, while Kohli found support in KL Rahul. The pair put on a 47-run stand for the fifth wicket, steering India closer to the target. However, just when it seemed Kohli would guide the team home, he was dismissed for a brilliant 84, caught behind off Pat Cummins in the 43rd over. His innings featured exquisite strokes and ensured India stayed in control of the chase.

At 225/5, India still needed 40 runs from 44 balls, keeping the match in the balance. This is when Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul stepped up with an aggressive counterattack. Pandya struck some crucial boundaries, scoring 28 off 24 balls, before being dismissed in the 49th over with just six runs needed for victory. However, Rahul held his nerve and sealed the win in style with a towering six, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 34 balls. Ravindra Jadeja was at the non-striker’s end, having faced just one delivery.

A Statement Win for Team India

India’s victory was built on solid individual performances and a composed run chase. Kohli’s 84 anchored the innings, while Rahul’s calm approach ensured there were no last-minute hiccups. Pandya’s late flourish added the finishing touches.

With the ball, Shami led the attack with precision, supported well by Chakravarthy and Jadeja. The disciplined bowling effort restricted Australia from posting an even bigger total.

Road to the Final

India’s journey to the final has been impeccable. The Men in Blue finished at the top of Group A, winning all three matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Australia, on the other hand, was the second-ranked team from Group B, behind South Africa.

As India awaits its final opponent, Rohit Sharma and his team will look to maintain their momentum and claim their third ICC Champions Trophy title. With their all-round performance and unwavering determination, India has sent a strong message to their competition, proving they are the team to beat in the tournament.

Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly, Adam Zampa.

ODI

04 Mar 25 ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 – 1st Semi-Final

Dubai International Stadium, Dubai