India has once again proven its prowess on the cricket field, decisively defeating Australia by four wickets to knock them out of the Champions Trophy semi-final on March 4, 2025. The match, held at the Dubai International Stadium, saw veteran Virat Kohli shine with the bat, scoring 84 runs off 98 balls, guiding his team to victory with 11 balls to spare.
Set to chase down 265 runs after Australia posted 264 all out, India faced early challenges, losing two wickets relatively quickly. Notably, captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 28 runs by Cooper Connolly, marking Connolly's first One Day International (ODI) wicket. Despite this, Kohli's experience shone through as he formed a significant 91-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer, who contributed 45 runs to the chase.
Australia's innings had begun under pressure as their batting lineup struggled. They lost wicket after wicket, unable to build the partnerships needed for higher scores. Captain Steve Smith kept his team afloat with 73 runs off 96 balls, supported by Alex Carey, who added 61 runs from 57 balls.
The slow pitch at the Dubai stadium became problematic for Australia. “It’s clearly not the easiest wicket to bat on,” Smith remarked post-match, highlighting how Australia struggled to adjust their game plan effectively. “We probably just lacked a couple of those partnerships just dragging out a little bit,” he added, acknowledging his side's difficult batting conditions.
India's bowling attack capitalized on Australia’s vulnerabilities, with Mohammed Shami leading the charge, claiming impressive figures of 3-48. Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy contributed to the dismantling of Australia's batting order by taking two wickets each. The Australian side had attempted to set up significant partnerships, including one of 56 runs between Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 29 runs. Still, this was insufficient against India's disciplined bowling attack.
Despite reaching what was considered a below-par score, Australia remained optimistic. Smith reflected on the match by stating, "I think we had our opportunities throughout to post something up above 300.” His sentiments hint at the missed chances and dropped catches which were pivotal during the match, particularly one of Kohli when he was on 51, courtesy of Glenn Maxwell.
On India’s side, the ability to capitalize on these opportunities was evident. Kohli’s run-scoring prowess is well-known, earning him the title of ‘the best chaser the game has seen’. At 36, he remains a formidable presence on the field. After his innings, Kohli emphasized the importance of pressure management during high-stakes situations, stating, “If you go deep and have wickets in hand, the opposition usually gives in, and the game becomes easier.”
KL Rahul’s performance, contributing an unbeaten 42 runs, was also instrumental, steering India home safely alongside Hardik Pandya, who added 28 runs, including three sixes during his innings. This solidity demonstrated India's depth and resilience, traits highlighted during their entire campaign. Smith praised India's performance, stating, “They played well, they outplayed us and they deserve the victory.”
This match is particularly significant following the heartbreaking loss to Australia 18 months ago during the 2023 World Cup final, serving as revenge for the Indian squad. Now, with their semi-final victory secured, India looks forward to the finals of the Champions Trophy. They will face the winner of the other semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand.
The road to this victory saw India conceding nothing to Australia's bowling, who saw their inexperienced attack struggle against the might of India's skilled batting lineup. With Connolly stepping up to replace the injured Matthew Short but coming away with disappointing results, his early dismissal on his ODI debut seemed to signal the start of Australia’s troubles.
Looking forward, cricket fans will be watching how India leverages this victory against either South Africa or New Zealand. Coach Smith acknowledges the need to focus on building the next generation of talent within Australian cricket, hinting at long-term improvements starting from here.
Smith noted, “It’s obviously a bit of inexperience... They’re going to be bigger and stronger for this exposure to international events,” reinforcing a commitment to future development. The strategic focus now lies on nurturing young talent to continue the legacy of cricket excellence for Australia.
The final match of the Champions Trophy promises to be another exciting encounter, emphasizing the growing rivalry and remarkable sportsmanship witnessed during this prestigious tournament.
With the final slated for Sunday, March 9, it will conclude what has been an exhilarating competition, and for fans and analysts alike, the anticipation is palpable. This dynamic clash and the contrasting strategies employed by both teams make for compelling viewing.