Virat Kohli played a match-winning innings of 84 runs to guide India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai.
Kohli’s Masterclass in Chase
Chasing 265, India faced early trouble after losing Shubman Gill (8) and skipper Rohit Sharma (28) cheaply. However, Kohli, known for his chasing brilliance, anchored the innings alongside Shreyas Iyer, who contributed 45. Their 91-run stand put India back in control.
Australia’s bowling attack, missing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood due to injuries, still fought hard. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa broke the crucial partnership by dismissing Iyer, and pacer Nathan Ellis rattled Axar Patel’s stumps for 27.
Kohli, dropped on 51 by Glenn Maxwell, looked set for a century but fell to Zampa at 225-5, giving Australia a glimmer of hope. However, KL Rahul (42)* and Hardik Pandya (28) absorbed the pressure, adding 34 runs in a vital stand. Rahul sealed the win with a six, sending the majority Indian crowd into celebrations.
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Australia’s Fighting Total
Opting to bat first, Australia put up a competitive 264. Skipper Steve Smith top-scored with 73, while Alex Carey added a crucial 61. The innings had multiple 50-run partnerships, including one between Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (29) and another between Smith and Carey.
India’s bowlers kept chipping away with wickets. Mohammed Shami starred with 3-48, while spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja grabbed two wickets each.
Australia’s innings ended in 49.3 overs, with Travis Head’s 39 off 33 balls providing an early boost. However, India’s disciplined bowling ensured they didn’t cross the 270-mark.
A Sweet Revenge for India
This win avenged India’s loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. The victory also secured their spot in the Champions Trophy final, where they will face the winner of the South Africa vs. New Zealand semi-final.
India, having played all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions with Pakistan, will now aim for another ICC title on Sunday.
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