India reach Champions Trophy Final after chasing down challenging total
Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul put on a late show to take India through to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final in a tense run-chase against Australia.
The pair formed a sixth-wicket partnership while the result was still in the balance, with India on 225/5 and still requiring 40 more runs from the remaining 44 balls for victory.
And their big hitting saw their side home to 267/6, with Pandya eventually dismissed in the 49th over for 28 off 24 balls, and Rahul seeing things home with a superb six, finishing with 42 from 34 balls - alongside a cameo from Ravindra Jadeja, scoring two from the single delivery he faced.
And their big hitting saw their side home to a total of 267/6, with Pandya eventually dismissed in the 49th over for 28 off 24 balls, and Rahul seeing things home with a superb six, finishing with 42 from 34 balls - alongside a cameo from Ravindra Jadeja, scoring two from the single delivery he faced.
Rahul's towering six takes to the final | IND v AUS | Champions Trophy 2025
Earlier, India had bowled Australia out for a total of 264 - the highest total scored by any team in Dubai during the tournament at that point.
In their response, Shubman Gill was the first to fall, bowled by Ben Dwarhuis, then Rohit Sharma, lbw bowled by Cooper Connolly, leaving India on 43/2 after eight overs.
Australia take two crucial wickets | IND v AUS | Champions Trophy 2025
A good partnership was broken by Adam Zampa, crashing through the stumps of Shreyas Iyer (45), leaving Virat Kohli at the crease with Axar Patel.
When Axar was bowled by Nathan Ellis, he was replaced by KL Rahul, who took to his task of holding down one end.
India had seized the match momentum towards the end of the Australia innings. After removing captain Steve Smith for 73, bowled by Mohammed Shami, the dangerous Glenn Maxwell went soon after for just seven, bowled by Axar.
Shami leads India's charge but Australia post fighting total | Innings Highlights | Champions Trophy 2025
And Australia lost their final four wickets in the last five overs, picking up 29 runs in the process.
Earlier, Travis Head had come out firing, making 39 off 33 balls before being caught by Gill off Varun Chakravarthy.
Travis Head takes off in Dubai | IND v AUS | SF 1 | Champions Trophy 2025
It followed a tentative start from fellow opener Cooper Connolly, given the nod in place of Matt Short, and who failed to trouble the scorers in his nine balls - removed in the third over, caught by Rahul off Shami.
Marnus Labuschagne was next to depart, putting in a useful 29 off 36 balls, followed by Josh Inglis for 11.
Alex Carey's arrival at the crease heralded the start of a valuable 50 partnership with Smith.
And after Smith and Maxwell were dismissed, Carey looked to push the run-rate on, eventually run out for 61 in the 48th over, and Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis both fell in the last two overs as Australia were bowled out with three balls remaining.
Two quick wickets give India momentum | AUS v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
Australia captain Smith won the toss and elected to bat first in Dubai.
While India finished atop Group A, winning all three of their fixtures against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand, Australia were the second-ranked side in Group B – only behind South Africa.
All On The Line Preview | IND v AUS | Champions Trophy 2025
The two teams are playing each other for the first time in a 50-overs contest since the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup Final.
While Rohit Sharma and co were the finished second-best in Ahmedabad that night, in their last meeting against Australia at an ICC tournament, India edged out the Aussies on their way to the Men's T20 World Cup title. ALSO READ - Ponting dismisses World Cup ghosts ahead of India-Australia Champions Trophy semi-final
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
More on India's squad
Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly, Adam Zampa.
More on Australia's squad ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 News India Australia
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