DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In an intense semi-final clash at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India made significant strides against Australia, leveraging key breakthroughs to gain a robust momentum. The encounter, taking place at the Dubai International Stadium on March 4, 2025, saw Australia set a target of 265 for India after a spirited innings anchored by Steve Smith’s 73 and Alex Carey’s 61.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia faced early challenges as their experimental opening with Cooper Connolly failed against the precision of Mohammed Shami. Connolly was dismissed for a duck, caught behind by KL Rahul off Shami’s delivery, setting an early tone at 4/1 in three overs. Travis Head briefly rallied with an aggressive 39 from 33 balls before falling to Varun Chakravarthy, as India tightened their grip during Australia’s innings.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne then consolidated the innings with crucial partnerships, pushing Australia to 110/3, but India’s disciplined bowling attack consistently posed threats. Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy were instrumental in breaking partnerships, with Jadeja’s dismissal of Labuschagne through an LBW proving pivotal.
Chakravarthy and Jadeja’s control over the spin added pressure, which was further exacerbated by Shami’s mid-innings breakthroughs. Smith’s eventual dismissal for 73 came as a significant turning point, followed shortly by the aggressive yet brief stint of Glenn Maxwell, who managed a six off Axar Patel before being bowled for seven.
Australia’s middle-order, spearheaded by Carey, attempted to regain control, but a sharp direct hit from Shreyas Iyer resulted in Carey’s run-out, stalling the innings’ momentum. The tail-end struggled against India’s closing spells, with Hardik Pandya wrapping up the innings by dismissing Adam Zampa, leaving Australia all out for 264 in 49.3 overs.
In the chase, India faced an early setback as openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma fell within the first eight overs, reducing India to 43/2. Gill was bowled by Ben Dwarshuis, and Sharma was trapped LBW by Connolly, both pivotal wickets that bolstered Australia’s hopes of defending their total.
However, the strategic partnership of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer stabilized India’s innings, advancing the score to 85/2 after 17 overs. Kohli, known for his adept chasing capability, alongside Iyer, focused on steady accumulation with precise strike rotation amidst Australia’s bowling variations.
As the match progressed, India’s composed performance contrasted Australia’s sporadic breakthroughs. Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, after a valiant batting effort, rotated his bowlers extensively to dismantle India’s middle order, but persistence and careful play by India were noticeable.
Reflecting on the match dynamics, Ravindra Jadeja commented, “The wicket is better than the last game, not much spin. We need to start well. If we play sensible cricket in the first 10 overs, then there won’t be any issues.”
India, with their sights on making history by chasing down the target, aim to overcome past knockout hurdles against Australia. As the semi-final culminates, Kohli and Iyer’s partnership remains crucial as India seeks to book a place in the final, awaiting the winner of the New Zealand vs South Africa clash.
