A combined bowling effort, followed by an anchoring half-century by Virat Kohli, led India to a resounding four-wicket victory over Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The victory propelled India into their third consecutive Champions Trophy final and will be joined by either South Africa or New Zealand on Sunday at the same venue.
India got off to a shaky start chasing 265 with Shubman Gill (8) falling early courtesy of Ben Dwarshuis in the fifth over with 30 runs on the board.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, followed suit just 16 balls later as he was trapped lbw by youngster Cooper Connolly, who had dropped him in the second over. He smashed three fours and a six on his way to a 29-ball 28.
Following the back-to-back blows, Kohli and Iyer put on a stand of 91 runs until, the latter was castled by Adam Zampa. Iyer walked back after scoring 45 off 62 deliveries.
Kohli was then made a stand with Axar Patel (27) and KL Rahul before finally perishing in the 43rd over. He remained the top-scorer for India with 84 off 98 deliveries, studded with five boundaries.
Following his departure, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were instrumental as they see India though to the winning line with a brisk 34-run stand.
Pandya scored 28 off 24 deliveries, while Rahul made an unbeaten 42 from 34 balls with the help of two fours and as many sixes.
For Australia, Nathan Ellis and Zampa bagged two wickets each, while Dwarshuis and Connolly made one scalp apiece.
Skipper Steve Smith and Alex Carey hit half-centuries as Australia made 264 all out against India in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday.
After choosing to bat, Smith hit 73 and the left-handed Carey smashed 61 to put on the highest total at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the ongoing 50-over tournament.
India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami stood out with figures of 3-48 as Australia's innings lasted 49.3 overs. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.
The left-handed Travis Head hit back with a flurry of fours and two sixes to raise memories of his onslaught against India in the 2023 World Cup final won by Australia.
But wrist spinner Chakravarthy struck on his second ball to get Head caught out at long-off for 39 off 33 balls as India celebrated a big wicket, leaving Australia 54-2.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne got to the grind and chipped away against the spinners. Labuschagne finally got a boundary after 50 balls.
He brought up 100 for Australia with a six off Axar Patel, prompting India skipper Rohit Sharma to change him next over with Shami.
Jadeja trapped Labuschagne lbw for 29 with his left-arm spin to end the 56-run stand.
Smith reached his 35th ODI half-century but Jadeja got another wicket when Josh Inglis gave away a catch to covers.
Smith stood firm and put on another solid stand of 54 with wicketkeeper Carey as the two found gaps and hit regular boundaries.
Carey reached his fifty and with fellow left-hander Ben Dwarshuis, who hit 19, kept up the charge until Chakravarthy sent back Dwarshuis.
Carey was finally run out after a direct throw from Shreyas Iyer but the total went past the previous best at the venue at this tournament – when India made 249 in beating New Zealand in the last group match.
India have won all three of their games and are playing in Dubai after they refused to tour Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan for political reasons.
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