The first semi-final match of the Champions Trophy was played between Australia and India.
Australia, batting first, scored 264 runs against India for the loss of 10 wickets in 49.3 overs. Australia captain SPD Smith contributed 73 runs in 96 balls, AT Carey 61 runs in 57 balls, and TM Head 39 runs in 33 balls for the team. India’s Mohammed Shami took 3, and CV Varun and Ravindra Jadeja took 2-2 dismissals.
India got off to a poor start with Shubman Gill getting out early, after which captain Rohit Sharma (28), Ss Iyer (45), AR Patel (27), and KL Rahul (35 not out) put on small partnerships with Virat Kohli (84) to take the match closer to victory. After Kohli’s dismissal, Hardik Pandya came in and got out after scoring 24 runs. The team needed 4 runs to win when KL Rahul scored 6 to book the Indian cricket team’s ticket to the Champions Trophy final.
the final match of the Indian team will be played in Dubai on March 9 against the winner of the semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa.
The Indian team made up for many old losses to Australia by winning this match. The defeat at the hands of Australia in the 2023 World Cup may still be fresh in the memories of Indian spectators. Indian viewers will feel this victory as a balm to the wounds of that defeat.