For the second time in ten days, Virat Kohli demonstrated why he is regarded as the ‘Chasemaster’ in ODIs, delivering a crucial half-century (84 off 98 balls, including five fours) to propel India into the final of the Champions Trophy. India secured a four-wicket victory over Australia in the first semifinal at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The 36-year-old batsman, much like his unbeaten century against Pakistan during the league stage, played a controlled innings, minimizing risks while maintaining a strong strike rate.
Chasing 265, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma provided the team with a brisk start before Kohli and Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a crucial 91-run stand for the third wicket.
Kohli began his innings confidently, lofting and pulling Nathan Ellis for two early boundaries, showcasing his ability to maneuver the field with precision. Meanwhile, Shreyas took an aggressive approach against left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, cutting and sweeping him for three quick fours.
India’s players paid tribute to the late Padmakar Shivalkar by wearing black armbands during the Champions Trophy semifinal.
On what was the best batting surface of the tournament at this venue, Kohli and Shreyas faced little trouble against an Australian bowling attack that lacked sharpness.
Kohli executed sweeps and pulls against leg-spinners Adam Zampa and Tanveer Sangha, reaching his half-century in just 53 balls.
Following Shreyas’s dismissal, the former India captain—who was given a reprieve on 51 when Glenn Maxwell dropped a catch—built key partnerships with Axar Patel and K.L. Rahul (an unbeaten 42 off 34 balls, including two fours and two sixes) to ensure that Steve Smith’s men never had a real chance to make a comeback.
As India neared victory, requiring just 40 more runs, Kohli attempted to loft Zampa down the ground but was caught at long-on, falling 16 runs short of a century.
Rahul and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls, including one four and three sixes) then completed the chase in style, thrilling the crowd with an array of boundaries and sixes. Their efforts helped India secure its first knockout-stage win over Australia in an ICC event in 14 years.
Prior to the game, Rohit Sharma had emphasized the importance of maintaining the same approach as in previous matches, saying, “We understand the opposition, need to approach the game like the last three games.”
Earlier in the day, half-centuries from Smith (73) and Alex Carey (61) had set the stage for Australia to post a competitive total. However, a disciplined performance from India’s bowlers, combined with proactive captaincy from Rohit, ensured that timely breakthroughs kept the reigning ODI champions to a modest 264.
Opener Travis Head got Australia off to a quick start before Smith took control of the innings. After being given a lifeline on 36—when Mohammed Shami dropped a catch—Smith accelerated, driving and pulling Varun for consecutive boundaries.
At the other end, Carey played aggressively against the spinners, employing the sweep effectively. He guided Kuldeep Yadav’s deliveries to fine leg and sent Varun’s bowling over midwicket with powerful slog sweeps.
Just as Smith looked set to increase the scoring rate, he misjudged a charge against Shami and was bowled by a full toss. Axar Patel then dismissed Glenn Maxwell in the following over, leaving Australia at 205 for six in the 38th over.
From there, India’s bowlers tightened their grip on the match, conceding only 51 runs in the final 10 overs. Their efforts set the perfect stage for Kohli to once again showcase his brilliance in chasing down targets.
