India reach Champions Trophy Final after chasing down challenging total
The two titans last met in an ODI game back in 2023, when Australia bested India at home to clinch the Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul put on a 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 requiring 40 more runs from the remaining 44 balls.
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 toto 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The two titans last met in an ODI game back in 2023, when Australia bested India at home to clinch the Men’s Cricket World Cup.
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