Virat Kohli scored an impressive half-century, and Hardik Pandya delivered a powerful late-innings performance to lead India to a four-wicket victory over Australia in Dubai on Tuesday, securing their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 final. While chasing 265, Kohli once again shone with a score of 84, but it was Hardik’s explosive hitting that sealed the win. Hardik smashed 28 runs off just 24 balls, including one four and three huge sixes.
The match was tense as India needed 27 runs from the last 24 balls, but Hardik eased the pressure with two sixes off Adam Zampa. These sixes ignited the crowd, and Virat Kohli’s enthusiastic reaction from the Indian dressing room quickly went viral on social media.
Australia batted first and were all out for 264 in 49.3 overs. India successfully chased the target with 11 balls remaining. Besides Kohli’s 98-ball innings, Shreyas Iyer contributed 45 runs, and KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya added 42 and 28 respectively in this first semi-final.
Earlier in the Australian innings, captain Steve Smith and Alex Carey both scored half-centuries, helping Australia reach a total of over 260.
Smith was the highest scorer with 73 runs off 96 balls, forming significant partnerships, first with Travis Head (39) for 50 runs for the second wicket, and then with Marnus Labuschagne (29) for another 56 runs for the third wicket.
Carey scored 61 runs.
For India, Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 38 runs. Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja each took two wickets.
