India Vs Australia Semi-final Highlights: Kohli's 84 helps India storm into final with four-wicket victory

The venue for the final of the Champions Trophy was undecided till now as it was dependent on India’s campaign. The Men in Blue were allowed to play all of their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as part of the ‘Hybrid Model’ agreement.

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium was the reserve venue in case Rohit Sharma’s men were knocked out in the semi-finals or earlier. It was the original venue for the final before the BCCI’s refusal to send the Indian team to Pakistan.

“Till the last ball is bowled, nothing is certain. Halfway through the game, we felt it was a reasonable score, and we have to bat really really well. I thought we were very clinical with the bat. We were very calm and composed. The wicket looked better, and that has been the nature of the surfaces. The one which played today was slightly better. We just want to play good cricket and not read too much into what the pitch is doing. (India’s six bowling options) That is something I really wanted, to have six bowling options and then batting till No. 8 as well. This is something we discussed while making the squad. Credit to everyone involved. When you have six bowling options, you can choose from anyone you want.

“(Kohli’s knock) He has done it for us for so many years. We were very calm. We wanted that big stand which Shreyas and Virat had. Then the shots by Hardik in the end were very important. (On the final) Very happy with that. When you want to play the final, you want all your guys in form. That is something that gives us a lot of confidence. We will not think too much about it. When the time comes, we will think about it. I also want the guys to relax,” the ‘Hitman’ says in the post-match presentation ceremony.

“The bowlers did a really good job. The spinners squeezed them and took the game deeper. It was a tricky wicket to start on and we did a good job. It played similar throughout the game. A bit of hold and skid for spinners. It was a little two-paced. It wasn’t the easiest batting condition. We could have put a few more runs on the board. If we had 280-plus, it could have been different. We were one wicket down too many down at each stage of the game.

“(On his team’s campain) Just the way we have come together. The bowling was quite inexperienced. Some of the batters stood up. The England game, they came up strong. They will continue to get bigger and better,” Smith, who scored a patient 73 earlier today, says at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Here’s the shot by KL Rahul that sealed India’s passage into the Champions Trophy final:

Smith, meanwhile, opts for a change from both ends, bringing Zampa and Dwarshuis back into the attack with the former bowling out his eighth over. Also for the first time, the runs required exceed the deliveries remaining.

Normally, that would be a source of worry for the Men in Blue. But in this case, they have six wickets in hand and a set batter in the middle. Drinks brought to the middle after the conclusion of the 40th. IND 200/4 after 40 overs; need 65 off 60

Travis Head’s more than handy with his off-spin, having bowled a game-changing spell in the 2023 World Cup semi-final match against South Africa in Kolkata. Kohli and Axar, meanwhile, opt to negotiate him by collecting a single off each delivery of his first over.

Maxwell continues from the other end, and Axar ruins what was turning out to be a steady over with a boundary off the last ball, going for an aerial drive over extra cover. Less than 100 needed for the Men in Blue now. IND 175/3 after 34 overs; need 90 off 96

All-rounder Axar Patel, who comes in ahead of KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya as usual, is off to a steady start as he collects eight runs off 13 balls through ones and twos.

Thanks to the positive approach maintained by Kohli and Iyer in their third-wicket stand before the latter’s dismissal, India have maintained a run-rate of five. IND 150/3 after 30

After getting dropped by Cooper Connolly in the previous over, Rohit Sharma nearly perishes in Dwarshuis’ second over in a manner that is a near replica of his dismissal in the World Cup final on 19 November, 2023 in Ahmedabad.

Only this time, it’s Marnus Labuschagne pedalling backwards from the cover/extra cover region after a mishit, with the ball popping out of his hand in the end. Australia certainly aren’t helping their case at the moment. IND 17/0 after 3