Shreyas Iyer once again stepped up under pressure in the high-stakes Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Walking in at a tense moment with India struggling at 43/2 after the early dismissals of Shubman Gill and skipper Rohit Sharma, Iyer played a composed and responsible knock to stabilize the innings.
Having already notched up back-to-back fifties in his last two matches, Iyer looked in fine touch from the start. Alongside Virat Kohli, he stitched a crucial partnership, ensuring that India didn’t crumble under early pressure. The duo added over 50 runs for the third wicket, taking calculated risks while rotating the strike efficiently against Australia’s disciplined bowling attack.
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Iyer, in particular, looked assured against the spinners, using his feet well and finding the gaps to keep the scoreboard ticking. His shot selection was smart, and he played an important role in easing the pressure off Kohli. As India crossed the 100-run mark, Iyer seemed set for another half-century, but an untimely dismissal cut short his promising knock.
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Adam Zampa, Australia’s premier spinner, provided the breakthrough in the 24th over with a delivery that skidded off the deck at 91.7kph. Iyer, attempting a cut shot, misjudged the length as the ball wasn’t short enough. It zipped under his bat and crashed into the off-stump, ending his innings at 45—just five runs shy of what would have been a well-deserved fifty.
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Earlier in the match, Australia posted a competitive total of 264, thanks to key contributions from Steve Smith (73) and Alex Carey (61). Though not an overwhelming score, it was one that kept them in the contest on a pitch offering some assistance to spinners and seamers using cutters. India’s bowlers, led by Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakaravarthy, controlled the middle overs well, with Shami’s dismissal of Smith proving to be a turning point.
With India’s batting depth and Australia’s relatively inexperienced attack, the chase still slightly favors the Men in Blue. However, with wickets falling at crucial intervals, the match remains finely poised—setting the stage for an intense finish.
