India stormed into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final with a commanding four-wicket victory over Australia in the semi-final on Tuesday. Rohit Sharma’s men showcased their dominance in Dubai, bundling out the Aussies for 264 before successfully chasing the target with 11 balls to spare. Virat Kohli once again proved why he thrives in pressure situations, anchoring the chase with a brilliant 84-run knock.
While India’s seamless run in Dubai has been a talking point, some critics have suggested that playing all their games at the same venue gave them an unfair advantage. However, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey dismissed such notions, insisting that India would have been just as formidable even if they had played in Pakistan.
“It’s probably nice to stay in the same venue and play on it three times in a row. But they’re a quality team, and no doubt they would have played good cricket in Pakistan as well,” Alex Carey admitted.
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He further highlighted Kohli’s exceptional ability to dictate the tempo of a run chase, regardless of the conditions. “I think just setting up run chases and knowing the tempo of the game probably helps a little bit, but Virat Kohli does a really good job in most venues around the world. We got to a pretty competitive total, but it wasn’t quite enough,” Alex Carey reflected.
For Australia, captain Steve Smith was the top scorer with a well-crafted 73, but his dismissal at the hands of Mohammed Shami at a crucial stage derailed their innings. Glenn Maxwell followed soon after, and Carey acknowledged that these back-to-back dismissals cost Australia a potential 300-plus total.
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“They’re two quality players, and losing them in consecutive overs is not ideal. It was a tricky wicket to start on, and settling in wasn’t easy,” Carey explained. “We built towards a target that kept us in the game for a long time, but maybe if a few things had gone our way earlier, the result could have been different. India played well and timed their chase to perfection,” he concluded.
With this win, India now awaits the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand as they gear up for a shot at their third Champions Trophy title.
