India Wins Convincingly, But Australia Give a Tough Fight in Crucial Semi-Final Clash
March 4, 2025: Dubai: India wins by 4 wickets! In a high-pressure Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium, Virat Kohli once again proved why he is regarded as the chase master. Kohli played a crucial knock of 84 runs off 97 balls, anchoring India’s innings after early setbacks. Hardik Patel’s might boundaries took the game away from Australia, though he got out on the 48th over while trying to hit a six to finish-off the game.
Also Read: Champions Trophy Semi-Final LIVE: India vs Australia After 40 Overs India Stable
Final Score: Australia 264 all out
India’s Batting Performance
| Batter | Status | Runs (Balls) | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | lbw b Connolly | 28 (29) | 3 | 1 | 96.55 |
| Shubman Gill | b Dwarshuis | 8 (11) | 1 | 0 | 72.72 |
| Virat Kohli | c Dwarshuis b Zampa | 84 (98) | 5 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Shreyas Iyer | b Zampa | 45 (62) | 3 | 0 | 72.58 |
| Axar Patel | b Ellis | 27 (30) | 1 | 1 | 90.00 |
| KL Rahul | Batting | 32 (34) | 2 | 1 | 114.28 |
| Hardik Pandya | c MAxwell b Ellis | 28 (24) | 0 | 1 | 91.66 |
| Extras | (lb 0, w 2, nb 0) | 2 | – | – | – |
| Total (45.0 Overs) | 267/6 | – | – | – |
Kohli Breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s Massive Record
While batting, Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most 50-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments. The milestone was reached when he crossed his 24th fifty-plus score, overtaking Tendulkar’s 23 in ICC tournaments. The historic moment came in his 53rd ICC ODI innings, making him the fastest to reach the feat.
India’s Chase: Strong Start, Mid-Innings Collapse
Chasing 265, India got off to an aggressive start with Rohit Sharma (28 off 29) and Shubman Gill (8 off 11) attacking early. However, both openers fell within the powerplay, leaving India at 43/2.
Kohli then steadied the innings alongside Shreyas Iyer (45 off 56), building a 91-run partnership for the third wicket. After Iyer’s dismissal, Axar Patel (27 off 30) played a handy cameo before getting out.
At the 40-over mark, India stood at 206/4, needing 59 runs in 60 balls. But just when the match seemed in control, Kohli fell for 84 while attempting a flick shot against Adam Zampa, bringing Australia back into the game.
KL Rahul and Hardik Patel led India to victory.
Australia’s Key Bowling Efforts
The Australian bowlers, despite missing star pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, have kept themselves in the game.
- Adam Zampa (2/44 in 8.4 overs) took the key wickets of Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli.
- Nathan Ellis (1/37 in 7 overs) and Ben Dwarshuis (1/39 in 7 overs) kept the Indian batters under control.
🏏 Top Players with Most 50+ Scores in ICC ODI Tournaments:
- Virat Kohli – 24 (53 innings)
- Sachin Tendulkar – 23 (58 innings)
- Rohit Sharma – 18 (42 innings)
- Kumar Sangakkara – 17 (56 innings)
- Ricky Ponting – 16 (60 innings)
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