India confirmed their dominance in international cricket once again, beating Australia by four wickets to qualify for the finals of the Champions Trophy 2025. They registered a somewhat easy win in the semi-finals held in in Dubai today. Chasing a modest target of 265 runs, Indians reached home in 48.1 overs.
Virat Kohli, anchored the Indian innings with a stroke filled 84 off 98 balls. Shreyas Iyer (45) and KL Rahul (42 not out) strengthened the Indian team with two successful knocks.
The Australians wasted several opportunities early in the Indian innings, indicating that the advantage of the day would go to the Indians.
Skipper Steve Smith and Alex Carey scored half-centuries before Australia were bowled out for 264.
Having won the toss, Australia elected to bat first on Dubai surface which didn’t promise too many runs. Smith scored 73 runs and left-handed batsman Alex Carey’s 61 were the high scores for Australia. However, 264 recorded as the highest total scored at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Champions Trophy.
The Australians were at 249 for 7 wickets but three wickets in 15 balls saw them bowled out for 264. Pacer Mohammed Shami showed claimed 3 for 48 while spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.
Mohammed Shami bowled brilliantly early in the innings, beating Cooper Connelly with six consecutive deliveries (including a wide). On the seventh ball he faced from Shami, the left-hander gave a catch to wicketkeeper Lokesh Rahul. On-field umpire rejected the Indians appeal but they sent the opener back to the pavilion with the assistance of DRS.
Left-hander Travis Head started his usual aggressive batting against India with a four and two sixes, reminiscent of his attack in the 2023 World Cup final. However Varun Chakravarthy ended Head’s innings in his second ball.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne struggled to take the team ahead against the spinners. Labuschagne only managed to hit a boundary after 50 balls. After a 56-run partnership, Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja.
As Steve Smith dropped the anchor, with his 35th ODI half-century, the other batsmen fell one after the other. Smith was supported only by Alex Carey. Smith, who joined Carey, built another 54-run partnership before being dismissed for 73 runs after being bowled by Mohammed Shami. While Carey also completed his half-century, Ben Dwarshuis led the fight with 19 runs. Ben Dwarshuis was dismissed at 239 and the Australians lost their way.
India will play all three matches in Dubai after refusing to tour Pakistan for political reasons. But senior international cricket commentators believe that playing all the matches in Dubai is an immense advantage for the Indians.
The second semi-final will be played between South Africa and New Zealand in Lahore tomorrow. The final will be played in Dubai on Sunday.
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