Australia Crashes Out as Kohli’s Masterclass Leads India to the Champions Trophy Final
Dubai [UAE], March 5: Australian captain Steve Smith heaped praise on Virat Kohli, calling him “arguably the best chaser the game has ever seen” after the Indian batting maestro steered his team to a thrilling four-wicket victory in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal on Tuesday.
With India chasing 265 on a slow Dubai pitch, Kohli once again delivered under pressure, crafting a match-winning 84 off 98 balls, guiding his team from a precarious 43/2 to a comfortable win in 48.1 overs. His innings reinforced his reputation as the ultimate run-chase specialist.
“He Has Done It Numerous Times Against Us” – Smith
Reflecting on India’s clinical chase, Smith acknowledged Kohli’s unmatched ability to control the tempo of a run chase.
“He is arguably the best chaser the game has seen. He has done it numerous times against us. He controls the tempo of the game really well,” Smith said in the post-match presser.
Smith also admitted that Australia was just a couple of wickets away from making a comeback, but KL Rahul (42 off 34 balls) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls)* played crucial finishing roles.
“We took it as deep as we could, but yeah, they obviously chased really nicely,” he added.
A Tough Pitch & A Crucial Missed Opportunity
Speaking about the pitch conditions, Smith noted the clear differences between Dubai and Lahore, where Australia had played earlier in the tournament.
“This one is quite slow, two-paced, took some spin. I think the Gaddafi track is arguably one of the best one-day wickets in the world for batting. The ball skids on nicely, the outfield is lightning,” he explained.
Reflecting on his own dismissal, Smith lamented missing a full toss from Mohammed Shami.
“I was trying to put the seamers under pressure and rotate the spinners, but I did not do it well. Losing my wicket at that stage was disappointing because had I batted deeper, we could have reached close to 300,” he admitted.
Match Summary: Kohli’s Knock Seals India’s Spot in the Final
Australia, after opting to bat first, posted 264 in 49.3 overs. Travis Head (39 off 33), Steve Smith (50 off 67), and Alex Carey (61 off 57) played crucial roles, but India’s bowlers constantly chipped away with wickets.
- Mohammed Shami (3/48), Varun Chakravarthy (2/49), and Ravindra Jadeja (2/40) starred with the ball.
- A stunning direct hit from Shreyas Iyer ended Carey’s resistance in the 48th over.
Chasing 265, India suffered early setbacks, but Kohli anchored the innings, forming crucial partnerships:
- 91-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (45 off 62)
- 44-run stand with Axar Patel (27 off 30)
- 47-run stand with KL Rahul (42 off 34)*
A fiery Hardik Pandya cameo (28 off 24) sealed India’s win with 11 balls to spare.
- Nathan Ellis (2/48) and Adam Zampa (2/60) were the pick of the Aussie bowlers.
With this win, India marches into the Champions Trophy final, seeking redemption after their 2023 World Cup heartbreak against Australia.
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Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, India vs Australia, ICC Champions Trophy, Champions Trophy Semi-final, Kohli Chase Master, Team India, Cricket News, Indian Cricket, ICC Knockout