The Dubai International Cricket Stadium was charged with excitement on March 4, 2025, as the Australian Men’s Cricket Team squared off against the Indian National Cricket Team in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy. Fans from around the globe eagerly awaited this epic clash, and it certainly lived up to its expectations, delivering a gripping finish. Let’s dive into the match’s key moments, thrilling performances, and the nail-biting finale that saw India emerge victorious.
Match Summary
- Match: 1st Semi-Final, ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
- Date: March 4, 2025
- Result: India won by 4 wickets (with 11 balls remaining)
Australia’s Innings: Battling Against a Tight Indian Attack
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, but they faced a disciplined Indian bowling unit that made it difficult to score freely. Despite strong individual efforts, they were restricted to a total of 264.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Head | c Shubman Gill b Varun | 39 | 33 | 5 | 2 | 118.18 |
| Cooper Connolly | c †Rahul b Mohammed Shami | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Steven Smith (c) | b Mohammed Shami | 73 | 96 | 4 | 1 | 76.04 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | lbw b Jadeja | 29 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 80.55 |
| Josh Inglis † | c Kohli b Jadeja | 11 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 91.66 |
| Alex Carey | run out (Iyer) | 61 | 57 | 8 | 1 | 107.01 |
| Glenn Maxwell | b Patel | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Ben Dwarshuis | c Iyer b Varun | 19 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 65.51 |
| Adam Zampa | b Pandya | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Nathan Ellis | c Kohli b Mohammed Shami | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 142.85 |
| Tanveer Sangha | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | (w 7) | 7 | ||||
| Total | 49.3 Ov (RR: 5.33) | 264 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-4 (Connolly, 2.6 ov), 2-54 (Head, 8.2 ov), 3-110 (Labuschagne, 22.3 ov), 4-144 (Inglis, 26.6 ov), 5-198 (Smith, 36.4 ov), 6-205 (Maxwell, 37.3 ov), 7-239 (Dwarshuis, 45.2 ov), 8-249 (Carey, 47.1 ov), 9-262 (Ellis, 48.6 ov), 10-264 (Zampa, 49.3 ov)
Indian Bowling Highlights:
- Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 48 runs in 10 overs.
- Ravindra Jadeja delivered with the ball as well, taking 2 crucial wickets for 40 runs in his 8 overs.
- Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel also provided key breakthroughs, helping India keep Australia under control.
India’s Chase: Kohli and Rahul Steer India to Victory
Chasing 265, India had a shaky start, losing early wickets. But the steady performance from Virat Kohli (84 runs) and a composed 67* from KL Rahul guided India past the target with 11 balls to spare.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma (c) | c Dwarshuis b Ellis | 13 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 65.00 |
| Shubman Gill | c †Carey b Connolly | 30 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 107.14 |
| Virat Kohli (c) | c †Carey b Zampa | 84 | 98 | 6 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Shreyas Iyer | c Dwarshuis b Ellis | 44 | 56 | 3 | 1 | 78.57 |
| Axar Patel | c Head b Connolly | 23 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 74.19 |
| KL Rahul † | not out | 67 | 78 | 5 | 0 | 85.90 |
| Hardik Pandya | c †Carey b Zampa | 33 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 113.79 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | not out | 17 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 154.54 |
| Extras | (b 1, lb 2, w 7) | 10 | ||||
| Total | 48.1 Ov (RR: 5.54) | 267/6 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-30 (Gill, 4.6 ov), 2-43 (Rohit Sharma, 7.5 ov), 3-134 (Iyer, 26.2 ov), 4-178 (Patel, 34.6 ov), 5-225 (Kohli, 42.4 ov), 6-259 (Pandya, 47.5 ov)
Australian Bowling Efforts:
- Nathan Ellis and Cooper Connolly were the standout bowlers for Australia, with Ellis claiming 2 wickets for 49 and Connolly contributing 1 wicket for 37.
- Zampa and Maxwell also chipped in with key wickets but couldn’t halt India’s march to victory.
Key Moments and Player of the Match
- Varun Chakravarthy’s Early Breakthroughs: His dismissal of Travis Head put India on the front foot early in Australia’s innings.
- Steven Smith’s Resilience: Despite the wickets falling around him, Smith’s 73 runs kept Australia’s innings afloat.
- Shreyas Iyer’s Counterattack: His 44 runs at a brisk pace reignited India’s chase after a few early setbacks.
- Virat Kohli’s Anchoring Knock: Kohli’s cool-headed 84 steered India to a comfortable victory in the semi-final.
- KL Rahul’s Finishing Touch: Rahul’s 67* was the key to India’s calm and composed finish, securing a spot in the final.
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli, for his match-winning knock of 84 and crucial contributions in the field.
The Bigger Picture: India’s Triumph
India’s win was a significant milestone, propelling them to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The victory underscored the fierce competition between India and Australia, two cricketing giants whose encounters are always filled with drama and intensity. This semi-final will go down as one of the most thrilling contests in recent memory, showcasing the resilience of both teams and the evolving narrative of world cricket.
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