Kohli Guides India to Third Successive Champions Trophy Final

In a display of sheer grit and tactical brilliance, India secured their place in the ICC Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time, defeating Australia by four wickets in a thrilling semifinal clash. Virat Kohli, the linchpin of India's batting lineup, once again rose to the occasion, steering his team to victory with a composed 84-run knock, while the bowlers set the stage with a disciplined performance to restrict Australia to 264. Kohli's Masterclass Anchors India's Chase Chasing a target of 265, India faced early setbacks with the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. However, Kohli, who crossed the milestone of 8,000 runs while chasing in ODIs, showcased his class and experience, anchoring the innings with precision. He found a reliable partner in Shreyas Iyer, who contributed a solid 45, as the duo stitched together a crucial 91-run partnership to stabilize the chase. Despite losing Iyer and later Axar Patel, Kohli held firm, ensuring India stayed on course. KL Rahul provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 42, while Hardik Pandya's explosive 28 off 24 balls, including three sixes, sealed the deal with 11 balls to spare. Kohli's dismissal in the 44th over, caught at long-on, briefly gave Australia hope, but Pandya's aggressive hitting ensured there were no late hiccups. Bowlers Set the Tone Early Earlier, India's bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to keep Australia in check. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the attack, claiming 3 for 48, while the spinners, led by Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, applied consistent pressure. Australia's innings was built around a resilient 73 from Steven Smith and a brisk 61 by Alex Carey, but regular wickets and tight bowling prevented them from posting a more imposing total. Varun Chakravarthy struck with his very first ball, dismissing Travis Head, while Shami's early breakthroughs kept Australia on the back foot. Smith and Marnus Labuschagne attempted to rebuild, but Jadeja's dismissal of Labuschagne and Shami's removal of Smith dented Australia's momentum. Carey's aggressive fifty provided a late surge, but his run-out in the 48th over, courtesy of a sharp throw from Shreyas Iyer, curtailed Australia's hopes of a strong finish. Kohli Praises Team Effort Speaking after the match, Kohli lauded his team's collective effort, saying, "It's always a team performance that gets you through in these high-pressure games. The bowlers set it up for us, and the batsmen executed the chase perfectly. We knew it was a tricky surface, but everyone stepped up when it mattered." India's Road to the Final India's journey to the final has been marked by consistent performances, both with bat and ball. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and handle pressure situations has been a hallmark of their campaign. With Kohli in sublime form and the bowling unit firing on all cylinders, India will head into the final as strong contenders to lift the trophy. Final Awaits India will now face Opponent Team in the final, scheduled to be held at Dubai on 09.03.25 The clash promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the best teams in the world, with India aiming to clinch their third Champions Trophy title. Brief Scores: Australia 264 all out in 49.3 overs (Steven Smith 73, Alex Carey 61; Mohammed Shami 3-48) India 267/6 in 48.1 overs (Virat Kohli 84, Shreyas Iyer 45, KL Rahul 42*) Result: India won by 4 wickets Stay tuned for more updates and live coverage of the ICC Champions Trophy final.