CT25: Kohli , Rahul leads India to tight win over Australia & a spot in final

 

India avenged their World Cup final loss by defeating Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal. Rohit Sharma and his team had the last laugh in Dubai, securing a four-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare. Mohammad Shami and Varun Chakravarthy set the tone with the ball, while Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer finished the job with the bat. Once again, Kohli proved why he is a big-match player. After his World Cup '23  semi final 100 , he delivered another crucial innings in another Semis , this time against Australia. Kohli showcased why he is trusted as the ultimate chase master, guiding India to the final. However, he missed out on a century, falling for 84 while attempting a big shot.

Travis Head, India’s Long-Standing Headache

Travis Head has been India's nemesis in ICC tournaments, scoring centuries in both the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals to seal Australia’s victories. On Tuesday, he started in a similar fashion in Dubai, taking on both pacers and spinners during the powerplay. Sensing the danger, Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Varun Chakravarthy, who had taken five wickets in the previous match against New Zealand. Chakravarthy delivered again, dismissing Head for 39, slowing Australia's scoring rate.

Jadeja, Axar Apply Pressure in the Middle Overs

India needed wickets in the middle overs to keep Australia in check, and Ravindra Jadeja stepped up by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne for 29 and Josh Inglis for 11. Regular breakthroughs hampered Australia's momentum. Axar Patel also played a key role, restricting Glenn Maxwell and eventually dismissing him for just 7.

Captain Smith’s Resilient Knock

Despite wickets falling around him, Australian captain Steve Smith held firm. He was fortunate early on when a ball hit his stumps but failed to dislodge the bails. Capitalizing on that luck, Smith played a steady innings, reaching a half-century. He seemed set for a hundred but was bowled by Shami for 73 while attempting an aggressive shot. His dismissal turned the game in India's favor.

Shami Strikes Back with Three Wickets

Mohammad Shami had gone wicketless since the Bangladesh match, but he found his rhythm against Australia. He provided India’s first breakthrough by dismissing young Cooper Connolly with the new ball. Later, he returned to take the crucial wicket of Steve Smith. Shami finished with figures of 3 for 48 in 10 overs, though he could have had more had he not dropped two return catches off his own bowling.

Shreyas’ Direct Hit Sends Carey Packing

After Smith’s departure, Alex Carey tried to anchor Australia’s innings, reaching a half-century and threatening to push the total beyond 280. However, a brilliant direct hit from Shreyas Iyer caught him short for 61, cutting Australia’s final total by at least 25 runs.

Indian Openers Falter Again

India’s chase began on a disappointing note, with Shubman Gill failing yet again. He had been dismissed for 2 against New Zealand and managed only 8 against Australia. Rohit Sharma looked in good touch, playing attacking shots early on, but he too fell cheaply, scoring 28 before being dismissed by Connolly trying to sweep & getting lbw  . 

Shreyas Stands Tall

Shreyas Iyer once again proved his worth in India’s middle order. After two quick wickets, he built a steady partnership with Kohli, focusing on rotating the strike rather than taking unnecessary risks. The duo added 91 runs, stabilizing the chase. Shreyas missed out on a half-century, getting out for 45 to Adam Zampa, but by then, India was in a comfortable position.

Axar, Rahul Play Crucial Roles

Both Axar Patel and KL Rahul played vital supporting roles for Kohli, ensuring stability in the chase. Axar contributed 27 before getting out, while Rahul stayed till the end. Their presence allowed Kohli to play freely without taking undue risks. On a tricky pitch, India’s batters relied more on running between the wickets than hitting big shots.

Chase Master Kohli Delivers Again

Virat Kohli once again stepped up in a high-pressure chase. After his match-winning century against Pakistan, he played another crucial innings, adapting his approach to the conditions. He knew that his wicket was the key, so he focused on singles and doubles rather than aggressive shots. Kohli built partnerships with Shreyas, Axar, and finally Rahul.

Even after reaching his half-century, Player of the match Kohli maintained his cautious approach, understanding the importance of batting till the end. He was particularly careful against leg-spinner Zampa, who had dismissed him multiple times in the past. It seemed like he was on course for his 83rd international century, but an ill-judged big shot off Zampa ended his innings at 84. He was visibly disappointed at not being there to finish the match.

Hardik, Rahul Seal the Victory

After Kohli’s dismissal, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul ensured there were no hiccups. Hardik smashed three sixes against the spinners, scoring a quick 28 off 24 balls. Rahul, calm and composed, remained unbeaten with 42 off 34 balls, finishing the chase in style with a six. Rahul's timely acceleration between the 40 to 45th overs helped India to ease the pressure .

Australia Pays the Price for Missed Chances

Australia had their chances but failed to capitalize. They dropped two catches of Rohit Sharma and missed a crucial chance to dismiss Kohli when Glenn Maxwell put down a catch. Their usually sharp fielding was uncharacteristically sloppy, and such mistakes proved costly in a high-stakes match. In the end, the reigning ODI world champions were eliminated from the Champions Trophy. However  thry did well in this CT minus their 3 prime fast bowlers .

India, on the other hand, marched into the final, seeking redemption after their World Cup heartbreak.