In a high-stakes semi-final clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India secured their spot in the Champions Trophy final by defeating Australia by four wickets. Central to this victory was Virat Kohli, who once again demonstrated his prowess in run chases with a masterful innings of 84 runs.
The Champions Trophy final is set to take place at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, with India securing their spot after a thrilling victory over Australia.
Virat Kohli continued his remarkable form, anchoring India’s run chase with a masterful 84 off 98 balls. Though he narrowly missed out on a second century in three matches, his innings was instrumental in turning the game in India’s favor. India eventually sealed the win by four wickets.
While Pakistan was the nominal host of the tournament, India’s progress to the final means five matches have been played on neutral ground in Dubai. The final, originally scheduled for Lahore, has now been relocated, with India set to face the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa.
India’s uninterrupted stay at one venue throughout the competition has been a talking point, but fate also played a role in shaping their path. Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, won the toss—making it the 14th consecutive time Rohit Sharma has lost the toss in ODIs. Smith opted to bat first on a pitch that had favored spinners throughout the tournament.
India stuck with their spin-heavy attack, including Varun Chakravarthy, who had shone in the previous game with a five-wicket haul against New Zealand. While he didn’t replicate those numbers, he still played a crucial role.
Travis Head, who had tormented India in past encounters, looked threatening after a shaky start against Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya. He was just settling in when Chakravarthy dismissed him for 39 off 32 balls.
With Head gone, Australia turned to Smith to steady the innings. He anchored the batting with a composed 73, sharing key partnerships with Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey. Carey’s brisk 61 off 57 balls provided the late impetus, but Australia was restricted to 264 after a moment of brilliance from Shreyas Iyer, whose direct hit ran out Carey—reminiscent of Martin Guptill’s famous dismissal of MS Dhoni in the 2019 World Cup semi-final.
India had a stroke of luck early in their chase. Rohit Sharma was dropped twice in the first three overs—difficult chances missed by Cooper Connolly and Labuschagne. Connolly eventually dismissed Rohit, but Kohli also received a lifeline when Glenn Maxwell put down a diving catch attempt.
India was 30-1 after five overs when Kohli stepped in. By the time he departed, the score had surged to 225-5 with just over seven overs remaining.
Hardik Pandya then stepped up, smashing two massive sixes off Adam Zampa, electrifying the crowd and easing India’s nerves. However, he fell just short of finishing the job, caught at the boundary while attempting the winning shot.
It was KL Rahul who sealed the deal, launching Maxwell over the ropes on the first ball of the penultimate over, securing India’s place in the final in emphatic fashion.
With this triumph, India advances to the Champions Trophy final, where they will face the winner of the semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa. The final is scheduled to be held in Dubai, a venue where India has showcased consistent dominance throughout the tournament.
Kohli’s exemplary performance not only underscores his status as a chase maestro but also reinforces India’s formidable position in international cricket. As the team gears up for the final, fans and analysts alike anticipate another display of strategic brilliance and athletic excellence.
