India secured a thrilling four-wicket victory over Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, booking their place in the final. The match, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, saw a brilliant knock from Virat Kohli, who scored 84 off 98 balls, guiding India in a high-pressure chase of 265 runs. Mohammed Shami led India’s bowling attack with figures of 3/48, ensuring Australia was restricted to 264 runs in 49.3 overs.
Kohli’s Record-Breaking Knock
Virat Kohli once again proved his class in run chases, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most 50-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments. Kohli now has 24 such scores, overtaking Tendulkar’s 23. His well-paced innings kept India on track, despite losing wickets at crucial moments.
India’s Chase: Steady Partnerships Seal the Win
Chasing 265, India got off to an aggressive start, with Rohit Sharma (28 off 29) and Shubman Gill attacking the Australian bowlers early on. However, both departed inside the first eight overs, leaving India at 55/2 after the powerplay. Kohli then built a crucial 91-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer (48), stabilizing the innings.
After Iyer’s dismissal, Axar Patel (27) played a quick cameo, but Australia fought back with regular wickets. When Kohli was dismissed in the 43rd over, India still needed runs, but KL Rahul (42) and Hardik Pandya (36 off 33)* ensured there were no further hiccups. India reached the target in 48.1 overs, winning with 11 balls to spare.
Australia’s Batting Effort
Batting first, Steve Smith (79) was the standout performer for Australia, while Alex Carey (61) provided resistance in the middle order. Travis Head (39) and Marnus Labuschagne (28) contributed, but Shami (3/48) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/41) kept Australia in check. The Australian lower order struggled, and the team was all out for 264.
What’s Next?
India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday in Dubai.