In a high-stakes clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 4, 2025, India secured their spot in the final. The Men in Blue defeated Australia by four wickets, with 11 balls to spare. The match was highlighted by a masterful innings from Virat Kohli. He scored 84 runs off 98 balls, guiding India in their pursuit of a 265-run target.
Australia's Innings
After winning the toss, Australian captain Steve Smith opted to bat first on a pitch that appeared dry and conducive to spin. Yet, the decision backfired early on as opener Cooper Connolly was promoted to the top of the order and struggled against India's pace attack. He faced nine deliveries without scoring before edging a delivery from Mohammed Shami to wicketkeeper KL Rahul, leaving Australia at four for one in the third over.
Travis Head attempted to counter-attack, striking a series of boundaries to accelerate the scoring. His aggressive approach yielded 39 runs off 32 balls, including a sequence of fours off Shami. However, his innings was cut short when he misjudged a delivery from spinner Varun Chakravarth. This resulted in a catch to Shubman Gill at long-on.
Steve Smith anchored the innings with a composed 73 runs off 96 balls. He started partnerships with Marnus Labuschagne (56-run stand) and Alex Carey (54-run stand). Carey contributed a brisk 61 off 57 balls, injecting momentum into Australia's innings during the middle overs.
Despite these efforts, Australia's batting lineup faltered in the latter stages, losing wickets regularly. Shami was instrumental in this collapse, finishing with figures of 3 for 48. Australia was eventually bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs.
India's Chase
Chasing a target of 265, India faced early setbacks with the dismissals of openers Shubman Gill (8 off 11 balls) and captain Rohit Sharma (28 off 29 balls). This situation left he team at 43 for two in the eighth over. Gill played on to his stumps while trying to run down a delivery from Ben Dwarshuis to third man. Rohit got trapped lbw while trying to attempt a sweep off Cooper Connolly.
Virat Kohli then took charge of the innings, displaying his renowned chasing prowess. He meticulously constructed partnerships, first with Shreyas Iyer, who scored a valuable 45 runs, and later with Axar Patel, who added 27 runs. Kohli's innings was characterized by precise placement and rotation of the strike. These skills minimised risks on a pitch that offered assistance to spinners. He reached his half-century in 68 balls, maintaining the required run rate.
Australia's bowlers, particularly Zampa and Ellis, applied pressure during the middle overs. Zampa dismissed Iyer and Kohli, finishing with figures of 2 for 60. Ellis was economical, conceding 49 runs in his ten overs and claiming two wickets. Despite these efforts, Kohli's presence ensured that India remained on course.
The pivotal moment came in the 43rd over when Kohli attempted to accelerate. He was caught by Dwarshuis off Zampa's bowling, leaving India at 225 for five. This dismissal injected tension into the chase, but KL Rahul's calm demeanour stabilized the innings.
Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 42, and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls) guided India closer to the target. Pandya fell with six runs needed. Finally, Rahul sealed the victory in the 49th over by lofting Maxwell for a six over long-on.
Post-Match Reflections
Steve Smith acknowledged India's superior performance. He said: "They played well, they outplayed us, and deserve the victory." Smith also highlighted the inexperience in Australia's bowling attack, lacking key players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
Virat Kohli's innings drew widespread acclaim, with commentators labelling it a "chase masterclass." Kohli's ability to adapt to conditions and execute a well-calibrated chase reinforced his reputation as one of the game's premier batsmen playing under pressure.
India's victory propels them into the Champions Trophy final. They will face the semifinal winner between New Zealand and South Africa. This triumph avenges their loss to Australia in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final.
The match showcased India's resilience and strategic acumen. This was expressed in navigating a challenging chase against a competitive Australian side. The form of key players like Kohli and the effectiveness of their bowling unit will be crucial in India's quest to secure the Champions Trophy.