IND Vs AUS Highlights, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final 1: India Thrash Australia In Dubai To Enter Third Consecutive Final

India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana

Australia Squad: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie, Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly

The India versus Australia fixture will start with the tos scheduled at 2pm IST at the Dubai International Stadium followed by the first ball at 2:30pm. The match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar app and website.

IND vs AUS, ODI World Cup 2011 quarter-final: India won by five wickets

IND vs AUS, ODI World Cup 2015 semi-final: Australia won by 95 runs

IND vs AUS, ODI World Cup 2023 final: Australia won by six wickets

IND vs AUS, WTC 2023 final: Australia won by 209 runs

Total matches: 151

India Won: 57

Australia Won: 84

No Result: 10

"Look, they are a great opposition to play against. All we had to do is what we have been thinking about the last three games and we have to approach that game in a similar fashion. We understand the opposition and how they play and stuff like that," Rohit said at the Press Conference

“There's pressure every time you play in a big game. But as we know, Travis has stood up in many of those in the past. You know, he looked in great touch the other night against Afghanistan," Smith said ahead of the game.

There is no chance of rain interfering in the proceedings around the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, it will remain a little hot during the game with temperature around 30 degree Celsius.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy

Probable XI: Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

Australia won the toss and opted to bat first against India in Dubai.

Playing XIs

Australia: Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

The weather is pleasant, with a gentle breeze blowing across the ground. The boundaries are set at 77 meters down the ground, with square boundaries measuring 69 meters and 62 meters. The pitch appears very bare, dry, and cracked, but it is still suitable for batting. Winning the toss and opting to bat first would be advantageous, as the ball is likely to grip. This conditions seem promising for spinners.

India has now lost 14 consecutive tosses in ODIs, the longest such streak that began with the CWC 2023 final between these two teams in Ahmedabad.

Australia have made two changes in their playing XI for the semi-final match against India. Cooper Connolly will open the inning with Travis Head. He replaced Matthew Short in the team who got injured in the last match. At 21 years and 194 days, Connolly became the fourth youngest Australian player to represent his nation in an ICC event. Tanveer Sangha comes in place of Spencer Johnson. India, on the other hand, are unchanged from the last match.

India's bowling attack was opened by Mohammed Shami and Travis Head along with Cooper Connolly came to open the batting. Just two runs from the first over. India need an early breakthrough in Dubai.

AUS - 2/0 (1)

Mohammed Shami got the first wicket when Cooper Connolly tried to hit hard but got no connection on any of his deliveries except on the last one which took a fine edge and KL Rahul took a diving catch behind the wickets. Shami is delighted. Connolly went back without making any run.

AUS - 4/1 (3)

Travis Head changed gears in the last few overs to keep the scorecard moving of the Australian side. He targeted seamers first and hit them for a couple of boundaries then he targeted Kuldeep Yadav and hit him for a massive six. India desperately need Head's wicket.

AUS - 53/1 (8)

Varun Chakravarthy was introduced into the attack in the ninth over and he got rid of the set batter Travis Head with the second delivery of his spell. Chakravarthy got a wicket in his first over! Shubman Gill took a brilliant catch at mid-on after running hard yards. Marnus Labuschagne is the new batter at the crease.

AUS - 63/2 (10)

India have gone spin-heavy in this match and they managed to bowl six overs in just fifteen minutes because of that. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja were also introduced into the attack and there was a delivery of Patel when the bail doesn't come off despite hitting the wickets. Steve Smith has some luck with him today!.

AUS - 76/2 (15)

The partnership between Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have started giving headache to the Indian bowlers. Smith has added runs with his typical way of batting where he keeps rotating strike and hit a few boundaries in between. Labuschagne, on the other and, targeted Axar Patel and hit him for a six in the 20th over.

AUS - 105/2 (20)

Ravindra Jadeja bowled a maiden over in the 21st over and Labuschagne welcomed him in his next over with a boundary. Jadeja trapped him with an LBW on the third delivery to get the third wicket for India. Josh Inglis is the new batter at the crease.

AUS - 113/3 (23)

Ravindra Jadeja got another wicket in his pocket when he got rid of the wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis in the 27th over. Steve Smith completed his half-century then hit a massive six off Jadeja but Inglis was trying to play that on covers and Kohli took a fine catch. A soft dismissal! Australia four wickets down.

AUS - 146/4 (28)

Captain Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were on Tuesday dropped from the Pakistan squad for the five-match T20 series in New Zealand. According to a PTI report, Salman Ali Agha replaced Rizwan as captain of the T20 outfit with all-rounder Shadab Khan being recalled and named his vice-captain. Rizwan has been retained as captain of the ODI squad after the team's disappointing show in the Champions Trophy. The selectors have avoided an overhaul in the one-day squad and retained the majority of the players who flopped in the ongoing ICC event.

Pakistan T20I Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (VC), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqeem, Usman Khan

Alex Carey joined Steven Smith after the dismissal of Josh Inglis and he has started well. Smith is soaking pressure and rotating strike while Carey is charging up against the spinners. He hit a six off Varun Chakravarthy in his seventh over. India need to break this partnership.

AUS - 173/4 (33)

Steven Smith and Alex Carey completed the 50-run partnership in no time thanks to the attacking approach from Carey. He has hit six fours and one six in his short but impactful inning so far. Smith was also trying to accelerate the inning but Mohammed Shami bowled him in the 37th over to finish his 73-run knock. Glenn Maxwell is the new batter at the crease.

AUS - 199/5 (37)

Glenn Maxwell replaced Steven Smith at the crease after his dismissal and Axar Patel took no time to dismiss him in the next over. Maxwell hit a big six then tried to do the same and lost his wicket. Australia are six wickets down.

AUS - 207/6 (39)

Alex Carey completed his half-century in just 49 balls. Ben Dwarshuis has also started shifting gears and managed to hit a six off Kuldeep Yadav then a four off Varun Chakravarthy in the next over. Indian bowlers are trying their best to halt Aussies before 260.

AUS - 234/6 (44)

Varun Chakravarthy got rid of the tailender Ben Dwarshuis in the 46th over when Shreyas Iyer took a fine catch to help him finish his spell with the bowling figures of 2/49. Alex Carey also got involved in a run-out and lots his wicket.

AUS - 250/8 (47.2)

Nathan Ellis hit Mohammed Shami for a six but Shami got his wicket on the very next delivery. Hardik Pandya bowled Adam Zampa to finish Australia's inning for 264 runs. India need 265 runs to win this match.

AUS - 264/10 (49.3)

Brief Score: AUS - 264/10 (49.3)

Steven Smith - 73 (96), Alex Carey - 61 (57) | Mohammed Shami: (10-0-48-3)

218 - Mahela Jayawardene
161 - Virat Kohli
160 - Ricky Ponting
156 - Mohammad Azharuddin
142 - Ross Taylor

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started the chase with Ben Dwarshuis opening the bowling from Australia. Rohit got a boundary then a three to collect seven runs from the first over.

IND - 7/0 (1)

Rohit Sharma managed to survive twice within the first four overs of the match when first Cooper Connolly dropped his catch at the point region then Marnus Labuschagne covered a long distance but could not hold onto the ball at the covers region.

IND - 20/0 (4)

Shubman Gill lost his wicket in the fifth over of the match. Ben Dwarshuis bowled an outside off delivery but Gill played the delivery and got an inside edge and the ball went directly into the wickets. Virat Kohli is the new batter at the crease.

IND - 39/1 (6)

Steve Smith introduced the 21-year-old Cooper Connolly into the attack in the eight over. Rohit Sharma tried to go big and was trapped in front of the wicket. The umpire gave that out but he reviewed the decision. That was three reds and India lost a DRS as well. Shreyas Iyer came to bat at number four.

IND - 47/2 (9)

After losing two early wickets, India are relying on their two prime batters Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Iyer looked trying so many things at the start but but got the momentum eventually and hit a few boundaries to release some pressure. Kohli is rotating strike at regular intervals.

IND - 75/2 (15)

Virat Kohli completed his 8000 runs in the ODIs while chasing. This is his 159th ODI while chasing and he has 40 fifties and 28 hundreds in this regard. He also has an average of 64 while chasing in ODIs.

IND - 88/2 (18)

Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli are taking the game forward by taking less risk and playing all of their shots. The duo also completed their 50-run partnership. Now, they are nearing their respective half-centuries.

IND - 117/2 (23)

Virat Kohli completed his 74th ODI fifty with a boundary in the 25th over. Shreyas Iyer is also nearing his half-century. Australia desperately needed to break this partnership and Adam Zampa did that in the 27th over. He bowled Iyer to break the partnership and also deny him his well-deserved fifty. Axar Patel joined Kohli at the crease.

IND - 136/3 (27)

Axar Patel targeted Tanveer Sangha and hit a massive six to break the shackles and collect his first boundary of the match. Virat is rotating the strike and taking the game deep with every over. Australia lost a review in the next over when there was a spike on Ultra Edge in response of their LBW appeal.

IND - 161/3 (32)

Axar Patel lost his wicket when Nathan Ellis bowled him on the last delivery of the 35th over. The ball hit the top of off stump. KL Rahul replaced him at the crease. Virat Kohli and Rahul will be hopeful of taking their team past the finishing line. India need 78 runs off 78 balls to win this match.

IND - 187/4 (37)

KL Rahul shifted gears and displayed some aerial shots to accelerate the inning. Virat Kohli tried to do the same and lost his wicket to Adam Zampa's delivery. He made a gritty 84. Hardik Pandya is the new batter at the crease.

IND - 226/5 (43)

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have take the match deep and now the equation is that India needed 27 runs in the last four overs. Pandya is trying for big shots whereas Rahul is trying to rotate strikes.

IND - 248/5 (46)

Hardik Pandya targeted Adam Zampa and hit back-to-back sixes to reduce the asked run rate. Then he went behind Nathan Ellis but lost his wicket while trying to repeat the same. KL Rahul hit the winning six to win the match by four wickets.

IND - 267/6 (48.1)

It was pretty similar to the other day against Pakistan as well. For me it is about understanding the basics and preparing my game accordingly.. just rotating strike because on this pitch partnerships are the most important thing. My only effort that day and today was to string in enough partnerships. The time that I got out the plan was to get 20 more and try and finish it off in a couple of overs. Usually that's the template I follow but sometimes you can't execute what you want to. (Aspects that pleased him the most about his innings) My timing. The composure at the crease.. I wasn't feeling desperate and feeling happy knocking ones around and when as a batsman you start taking pride in taking singles into the gaps, that is when you know you are playing good cricket and you know you are in for a big partnership. In the game against Pakistan and today that was the most pleasing factor for me.

I thought the bowlers did a really good job, they worked hard throughout, the spinners squeezed and took the game deep. It was a tricky wicket to start on batting, tough to rotate the strike, everyone did a really good job tonight. It played pretty similar throughout. Little bit of hold for the spinners, little bit of spin and a bit of skid. For the pacers, it was two-paced. We probably could have got a few more on. We lost a couple of wickets at crucial times. If we got 280+, things would have been different. Felt like we were one wicket too many down at each stage of the game. The way we've come together. The bowling unit did a wonderful job, some of the batters stood up. We played exceptionally well against England. Some really good cricketers, they are going to get bigger and better.

Till the last ball is bowled, nothing is certain. At the halfway stage, we felt like it's a reasonable score. The nature of the pitch doesn't allow you play your shots. We were clinical with the bat. We were calm and composed in our chase. Looked better (pitch). Slightly played better than the one against NZ. It's about playing good cricket. There are a lot of experienced guys. That's something I wanted to have - six bowling options and at the same get that batting depth as well. Credit goes to everyone who were involved in making the team. He's done it for so many years. When we were batting, we were calm. Those shots in the end by Hardik were crucial. When you are in the final, you want all the guys in form. All these guys have made an impact and that gives us a lot of confidence. We'll not think too much about it. Both are good teams, that's why they are in the semis. It's a very high pressure tournament, it's always nice to have some time off and relax and then think about the final.

South Africa will clash with New Zealand in the second semi-final in Lahore tomorrow. The winner will face India in the final which will be played in Dubai on Sunday, 9 March 2025. That's all from our side. Join us tomorrow for another big game. Until then, goodbye and goodnight!