India clinched their place in Sunday's Champions Trophy final with a four-wicket victory over Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai. (Highlights | Talking Points | Full Coverage)
Mohammed Shami captured 3-48 – including the huge wicket of Steve Smith, whose 73 was his best ODI knock since February 2024 – as Australia were bowled out𒆙 for 264.
Hunting a bigger target than they had needed to when winning Group A with a perfect record, India lost both openers early but Virat Kohli's 84 ensured they were never really troubled in their chase, and they will now face South Africa or New Zealand in the🐎 final.
Losing Cooper Connolly to Shami for a nine-ball duck represented an inauspicious start for Australia, and when Varun Chakravarthy had Travis Head caught by Shubman Gill just as he was starting to look dangerous on 39, they had furthꦦer cause for concern.
Butᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱⛄ᩚᩚᩚ Steve Smith scored a watchful 73 off 96 with support from Marnus Labuschagne (29) and Josh Inglis (11) to help Australia lift themselves to 198-4, from 54-2.
At that moment, Smith's side were looking at a total of 300-plus, but the skipper was cleaned up by Shami in the 37th over, and a huge♑ misjudgement from Glenn Maxwell (seven) saw him fall victim to Axar Patel just five balls later in a further blow to Australia's hopಞes.
A stoic 61 from Al♈ex Carey staved off a total collapse, but he was run out by Shreyas Iyer when attempting to get back for two runs with Australia 249-8 in the 48th over.
India did an expert job of closing out the innings from there, limiting Australia to 66 runs from 72 deliveries after Maxwell had fallen. Though their score of 264 was respectable, it was one India could chase with confidenc⭕e.
But the soft dism꧟issal of Shubman Gill (eight) preceded Connolly trapping Rohit Sharma lbw for 28, with the India skipper taking a review with him as the tracker confirmed the ball was in line to crash leg stump.
At 43-2, India could have allowed nerves to get the better of them, but they had the perfect man to steady the ship in Kohli, who shared a 91-run third-wicket✨ stand with Iyer.
Kohli continued for another 16 overs after Adam Zampa struck💛 to remove Iyer for 45, looking for a repeaওt of his match-winning century against Pakistan in the group stage.
Though Ben Dwarshuis' catch ensured Kohli would not see through the chase this time, he departed with India 𓃲needing 40 from 44 balls, and they coasted home, helped by Hardik Pandya thrashing three sixes in his score of 28.
Data Debrief: India's home away from home?
India's victory means t൩hey are now unbeaten in 10 men's ODIs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, winning nine and drawing the other.
They are just the second team to ever complete 10 games in the format at any ground without losing, after New Zealand at the University Oval in Dunedinဣ (10 wins). The United Arab Emirates will now host Sunday's final, too.
This was a memorable outing for Kohli, who became only the third India player to feature in 50 men's ODIs against Auඣstralia, after Sachin Tendulkar (71) and MS Dhoni (55).
He recorded his 23rd score of 50 or more against Australia in ODIs, too, equalliဣng Viv Richards (23) for the second-most in the format (Ten💎dulkar had 24).
