AUS Vs IND: India beat Australia by 4 Wickets to Reach Final

AUS Vs IND: India secured a spot in the Champions Trophy final on Tuesday, defeating Australia by four wickets in the semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium.

This victory secured India’s third consecutive appearance in the Champions Trophy final and fifth overall. They reached the final in 2000 and 2002 as well. They were champions in 2013, runners-up in 2017, and now they are set to compete in the 2025 final.

India took charge of the innings with Rohit Sharma leading the way, confidently finding boundaries and setting the tone early. However, India faced a setback when Shubman Gill (8) was dismissed during the powerplay, disrupting their batting flow.

However, Virat Kohli’s calm and experienced presence steadied the innings, allowing for a steady flow of runs. India had strategically positioned at 55/2 in 10 overs.

Kohli played a key role in averting a collapse, demonstrating his ability to anchor the innings during a crucial phase of the match. Captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 28, and Shreyas Iyer then joined Virat Kohli, with both batters adding to the score with occasional boundaries. However, the 91-run partnership between Kohli and Iyer proved vital, relieving the pressure on the middle-order batsmen.

In search of a breakthrough, Steve Smith wisely brought in his spin bowlers. Adam Zampa struck by removing Shreyas Iyer (45), giving Australia an important wicket. Axar Patel came to the crease, and Virat Kohli focused on forming another key partnership with Patel.

In the end, Virat Kohli achieved a significant milestone by scoring his 74th ODI half-century, reinforcing his reputation as a prolific performer in major events. After Axar Patel (27) was dismissed following a valuable knock, KL Rahul joined Kohli, and the pair formed a vital partnership that steadily shifted the momentum in India’s favor, taking control of the match from Australia.

Kohli fell short of his century, getting dismissed for 84 off 98, as India continued the chase. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya then took charge, hitting the remaining runs and guiding India to victory.

AUS Vs IND: Ist Inning

Earlier in the match, Rohit Sharma lost the toss for the 14th consecutive time in ODIs, with Steve Smith choosing to bat first. India struck early as Mohammad Shami dismissed Connolly for a duck. Travis Head responded with a counterattack, prompting an early change in bowling. Varun Chakravarthy came in and claimed the crucial wicket of Head, forcing Australia to focus on building a partnership rather than playing aggressively.

Australia fought back as Smith and Labuschagne formed a solid partnership, but India broke through with a key wicket. Smith (73) fell short of a well-deserved century, and although Alex Carey played a valuable knock of 61, he too couldn’t remain at the crease for the final overs. In the end, India successfully bowled Australia out for 264 runs.

Mohammad Shami was the standout bowler for India, taking 3 wickets. Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja bothpicked up 2 wickets each, while Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel claimed one wicket apiece.

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