India secured their place in the Champions Trophy final with a five-wicket win over Australia, chasing down 264 with six balls to spare. Virat Kohli’s composed 84 was the backbone of India’s chase, supported by KL Rahul’s unbeaten 42 and contributions from Shreyas Iyer (45) and Hardik Pandya.
Australia, after opting to bat, reached 264 in 49.3 overs. Steven Smith (73) and Alex Carey (61) were the standout performers, but regular wickets halted their momentum. Mohammed Shami (3-48) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-40) ensured Australia never ran away with the game, while Varun Chakravarthy (2-49) played a key role in applying pressure.
Travis Head provided early intent but fell for 39 after miscuing a shot off Chakravarthy. Smith built partnerships with Head, Marnus Labuschagne, and Carey, manipulating the spinners skillfully. He survived two dropped catches but fell to a full-toss from Shami in the 37th over. Glenn Maxwell followed soon after, missing a pull shot off Axar Patel. Carey fought back with aggressive strokeplay but was run out attempting a second run, leaving Australia short of the 300-mark they aimed for.
India’s chase started with Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma playing aggressive shots. Gill fell for a run-a-ball 12, while Rohit (33) attacked but was dismissed sweeping Cooper Connolly. At 43 for 2, India needed stability, and Kohli, alongside Iyer, provided just that. Their 91-run partnership saw Kohli rotate strike efficiently, while Iyer used unconventional strokes to find gaps.
Iyer’s dismissal to Adam Zampa’s quicker delivery left India needing 131 off 142 balls. Kohli, in his typical style, kept the chase steady, adding crucial stands with Axar Patel and Rahul. His innings ended in an uncharacteristic fashion when he mistimed a big shot off Zampa, falling for 84.
Rahul and Hardik Pandya ensured no further hiccups. The duo struck timely boundaries, with Rahul finishing the chase in style, hitting Glenn Maxwell for a six over long-on. India’s controlled approach—facing fewer dot balls and running more singles than Australia—proved decisive.
With this win, India advanced to the final in Dubai, outplaying Australia with superior batting depth and spin control.
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