Indian cricketing team scored a grand victory over Australia in the Champions trophy at Dubai on Feb 4.The moment K.L. Rahul hit a six off Glenn Maxwell over long-on, Virat Kohli was overjoyed. He had been smiling ever since Hardik Pandya hit two consecutive sixes off Adam Zampa in the 47th over.
Kohli let out a roar as he ran up the staircase leading to the dressing room at the Dubai International Stadium. Soon after, he clenched his fists in celebration, standing proudly among his teammates. When Rohit Sharma walked in, Kohli pulled him into a tight hug, reminding everyone of their victory in the T20 World Cup final in June last year.
India’s four-wicket win over Australia, with 11 balls to spare, secured their place in the final of yet another ICC tournament. A key highlight of the match was how India dismissed Travis Head, the batsman who had troubled them in previous encounters. Now, India will face the winner of the match between New Zealand and South Africa in the final on Sunday.
The emotions on the field were clear—this was more than just winning a semi-final. It was about defeating a team that had dominated ICC tournaments for years.
India had a lot to prove, especially after facing disappointments against Australia in crucial matches. They had lost the World Test Championship final at The Oval, the World Cup final at home, and suffered a tough series loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. This match was a chance for redemption.
Rohit Sharma admitted that he was uncertain about what to do at the toss, and he was relieved when he didn’t have to make the decision. Chasing a target of 265 on a slow pitch was tricky, but India followed their well-planned strategy perfectly.
Rohit started aggressively, trying to unsettle an Australian bowling attack that was missing key pacers like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. After Rohit got out, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer took charge, building a crucial 91-run partnership. They showed patience and made sure the innings stayed on track.
Australia, led by Steve Smith, had included six spin bowlers in their team, but Kohli played them with confidence. Known for his ability to chase, he scored 84 runs off 98 balls with great timing and control. He hit only five boundaries, proving his ability to stay calm and play smart cricket.
“I think my timing was good. I felt composed at the crease and was not in a rush. I was happy to rotate the strike and take singles. When a batsman takes pride in finding the gaps and taking singles, that’s when you know you’re playing well,” Kohli said about his innings.
When Kohli got out, India still needed 27 runs from four overs. But Rahul, who scored 42 off 24 balls, stayed calm under pressure. Hardik Pandya also played a fearless knock, ensuring India crossed the finish line.
“In big matches like semi-finals and finals, handling pressure is key. If you bat deep into the innings and have wickets in hand, the opposition often loses control, making the game easier for us. It’s very important to stay calm and not get carried away,” Kohli added.
India executed their plans well, including stopping Travis Head at the right moment. Head had not faced Varun Chakravarthy during IPL 2024, and when the two met for the first time, the mystery spinner won the battle by dismissing him on the very first ball. Rohit waited before bringing Varun into the attack, but when the Head started playing aggressively, he finally called on the spinner.
Varun bowled a delivery that spun just enough to unsettle Head, making him mistime his shot. The Indian players celebrated wildly as if they had sealed Australia’s fate. Head had hit five boundaries and two sixes in no time, making him a serious threat to India’s chances.
The dry pitch was expected to support India’s four-spin attack, but surprisingly, only Varun completed his full quota of overs. Steve Smith (73 off 96 balls) and Alex Carey (61 off 57 balls) played the spinners well, finding gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
However, Mohammed Shami stepped up on the big occasion. He had been a key player in India’s unbeaten run to the 2023 World Cup final, and on Tuesday, he proved once again why he is one of the best fast bowlers. Despite a long break from international cricket, he showed that the Dubai conditions had not affected his skills.
Shami got good seam movement with the new ball and later troubled the batsmen with his slower deliveries and deadly yorkers in the final overs. His three wickets showed his class and discipline.
His precise bowling slowed Australia’s scoring in the last 10 overs, where they managed only 51 runs while losing four wickets. This proved to be a game-changing moment for India, sealing titsspot in yet another ICC final.