Daijiworld Media Network
Dubai, March 4: Virat Kohli's brilliant 84, coupled with an unbeaten 42 from K.L. Rahul and a quick-fire 28 from Hardik Pandya, led India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Australia in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.
With this win, India became the first team to qualify for the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time. They will now face the winner of the second semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand, scheduled to take place in Dubai on March 9. This victory also marked a moment of redemption for India, having previously lost to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Chasing 265, India seizes the advantage
Set a target of 265, India’s chase got off to a rocky start. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill managed a brief 30-run partnership. Rohit, in aggressive form, hit three fours and a six before being dismissed for 28 by Cooper Connolly in the eighth over. Ben Dwarshuis had earlier sent Gill back for just 8.
Kohli then joined forces with Shreyas Iyer, and the pair laid the groundwork for India’s chase with a vital 91-run partnership for the third wicket. Iyer was dismissed for 45 by Adam Zampa in the 27th over, but Kohli’s 74th half-century in ODIs helped steady the ship. His knock also made him the highest run-scorer for India in Champions Trophy history, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan's tally of 701 runs from the 2013 to 2017 editions.
Kohli continued to build key partnerships with Axar Patel and Rahul, taking India closer to the target. However, Kohli fell to Zampa in the 43rd over, giving Australia a slight chance of a comeback. But Pandya, with a quickfire 28, and Rahul, who remained unbeaten, sealed the win with a 34-run stand off 31 balls.
Pandya smashed two sixes off Zampa and another four off Nathan Ellis before being dismissed in the 48th over. Rahul finished off the game in style, hitting a six off Glenn Maxwell to take India home with 11 balls to spare.
Australia's struggles despite solid contributions
Earlier, despite half-centuries from captain Steve Smith (73) and Alex Carey (61), Australia could not reach the 300-run mark, thanks to some disciplined bowling from India.
The early stages of the match saw India’s pacers Shami and Pandya apply pressure. A key moment came when Shami dropped Travis Head on a duck early in the innings. However, Shami made amends by dismissing Cooper Connolly for a duck in his second over, giving India their first breakthrough.
Head started aggressively after surviving a close call, hitting Pandya for a boundary and a six. He continued his attack on Shami, collecting 14 runs from an over. However, the introduction of spinner Varun Chakaravarthy turned the tide for India, as he dismissed Head for 39, courtesy of a stunning catch by Shubman Gill.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne then steadied the Australian innings with a 56-run stand, but the spinners continued to apply the pressure. Axar Patel was unlucky not to get a wicket when a ball hit the stumps but failed to dislodge the bails.
Jadeja finally broke the stand, removing Labuschagne for 29. Smith went on to complete his half-century, but was dismissed soon after by Shami for 73.
Australia continued to lose wickets as Axar Patel bowled out Glenn Maxwell for 7, and Jadeja removed Josh Inglis for 11. Carey fought valiantly and completed his half-century, but was dismissed for 61 by a sharp direct hit from Shreyas Iyer.
Shami claimed the wicket of Nathan Ellis for 10, and Pandya dismissed Adam Zampa for 7 as Australia were bowled out for 264 with three balls to spare.
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.