ছবি: Photo: Collected
India secured a spot in the Champions Trophy final after a hard-fought 4-wicket victory over Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing a target of 265, India showcased a resilient batting performance, led by captain Virat Kohli's brilliant 84 off 98 balls, to book their place in the final for the fifth time in the tournament's history.
Australia, opting to bat first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs. Captain Steve Smith top-scored with 73 off 96 balls, while Alex Carey contributed a quickfire 61 off 57 deliveries. For India, Mohammed Shami claimed 3 wickets, with Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy taking 2 wickets each.
In response, India faced early setbacks, losing openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma for 43 runs. However, Kohli steadied the innings with a 91-run partnership with Sreyas Iyer (45 off 62 balls) for the third wicket. Axar Patel then joined Kohli, adding 44 runs before departing for 27 off 30 balls.
Kohli continued to anchor the chase, forming a crucial 47-run stand with Lokesh Rahul. However, he fell short of a century, dismissed for 84 while attempting a big shot off Adam Zampa. Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls) and Rahul then took India closer to victory, with Rahul sealing the win with a six off Glenn Maxwell in the 49th over. Rahul remained unbeaten on 42 off 34 balls, guiding India to victory with 11 balls to spare.
This win marks India's fifth appearance in the Champions Trophy final, having previously won the tournament twice (2002 and 2013) and finishing as runners-up twice (2000 and 2017). India will now await the winner of the second semifinal between Pakistan and New Zealand in their quest for a third Champions Trophy title.
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