High-pressure games often bring out intense emotions, and in a high-stakes Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia, even the most composed players couldn’t hold back. This time, Kuldeep Yadav found himself on the receiving end of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s frustration.
During a crucial phase of the match, with Steve Smith and Alex Carey at the crease, an opportunity for a run-out presented itself. However, Kuldeep failed to grab the ball at the non-striker’s end, letting the chance slip away. Rohit and Kohli, known for their aggressive approach, were visibly frustrated, with Kohli even letting out a few choice words. The intensity of the moment underscored how critical every half-chance was in a knockout game.
Chuldeep😭😭 https://t.co/KNa6yFug5e pic.twitter.com/fHfGsRl8iD
— S A K T H I ! (@Classic82atMCG_) March 4, 2025
Despite the missed opportunity, India clawed their way back into the contest when Mohammed Shami produced a moment of brilliance, clean-bowling Steve Smith. The Australian skipper had played a solid knock, scoring 73 off 96 balls, including four boundaries and a six, before Shami’s lethal delivery sent him back.
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At the time of writing, Australia stood at 199/5 after 37 overs, with Alex Carey batting on 39* and Glenn Maxwell yet to make an impact. With India sensing an opening, Rohit Sharma’s men will look to capitalize and restrict Australia to a manageable total.
The winner of this clash will face the victor of the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand, adding another layer of anticipation to the tournament’s final showdown.
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Australia (Playing XI): 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 (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
