Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai
Dubai, Mar 4: A composed 84 from Virat Kohli, alongside crucial contributions from K.L. Rahul and Hardik Pandya, propelled India to a four-wicket victory over Australia in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium. With this win, India secured a spot in the final for the third consecutive time and avenged their 2023 ODI World Cup final defeat against the same opponent.
Chasing 265, India began with a steady 30-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Rohit played aggressively before Gill was bowled by Ben Dwarshuis for eight in the fifth over. The Indian skipper's knock of 28, which included three boundaries and a six, ended when Cooper Connolly trapped him LBW in the eighth over.
Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then built a crucial 91-run partnership for the third wicket, stabilizing the chase. Iyer's dismissal for 45 by Adam Zampa in the 27th over gave Australia a breakthrough, but Kohli carried on, reaching his 74th ODI half-century and surpassing Shikhar Dhawan to become India's highest run-scorer in Champions Trophy history.
Despite losing partners, Kohli pushed India closer to the target, adding crucial runs with Axar Patel and Rahul. He was eventually dismissed by Zampa in the 43rd over, momentarily giving Australia hope. However, Hardik Pandya's explosive 28-run cameo, featuring two sixes off Zampa, put India back in command. Rahul finished the game with an authoritative six off Glenn Maxwell, sealing the win with 11 balls to spare.
Earlier, Australia, led by Steve Smith’s 73 and Alex Carey’s 61, struggled to cross the 300-run mark due to disciplined Indian bowling. Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya found movement early, creating immediate pressure. Shami dropped Travis Head on a duck but later dismissed Cooper Connolly for a nine-ball duck. Head counterattacked with boundaries but fell for 39 to Varun Chakaravarthy, with Shubman Gill taking a brilliant catch at long-off.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne put on a steady 56-run partnership before Jadeja trapped Labuschagne LBW for 29. Smith reached his 35th ODI half-century before launching Jadeja for a six but was eventually dismissed for 73 by Shami. Maxwell’s poor form continued as Axar Patel bowled him for just seven.
Carey anchored the innings, reaching his fifty off 48 balls and adding a 34-run stand with Ben Dwarshuis before Chakaravarthy struck again. A sharp direct hit from Shreyas Iyer ended Carey’s innings at 61. Shami and Pandya cleaned up the tail, bowling Australia out for 264 in 49.3 overs.
India now awaits the winner of the South Africa vs. New Zealand semifinal for the title clash on March 9.
Brief Scores:
Australia: 264 all out in 49.3 overs (Steve Smith 73, Alex Carey 61; Ravindra Jadeja 2-40, Mohammed Shami 3-48, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-49).
India: 267/6 in 48.1 overs (Virat Kohli 84, Shreyas Iyer 45; Nathan Ellis 2-49, Adam Zampa 2-60).
India won by four wickets.