Shreyas Iyer’s brilliance in the field proved to be a game-changer for India as his direct hit sent Alex Carey back to the pavilion at a crucial juncture in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia. Carey, who was looking dangerous with a well-made 61, seemed set to propel Australia past 275, but Shreyas’ sharp fielding effort put the brakes on their momentum at the Dubai International Stadium.
The moment came on the first ball of the 48th over when Carey pulled a delivery behind square and immediately pushed for a risky second run. Positioned at deep backward square leg, Shreyas sprinted in, collected the ball cleanly, and unleashed a pinpoint throw straight to the keeper’s end. Carey, despite a desperate dive, fell short, bringing an end to his fluent innings.
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Carey’s 61 off 49 balls, which included eight fours and a six, was a crucial knock for Australia. He had stitched a valuable 54-run partnership with captain Steve Smith for the fifth wicket, keeping the Aussies in the hunt for a 300-plus total. However, just as they were looking to accelerate, Mohammed Shami dismissed Smith for 73 with a deceptive full toss, triggering a collapse.
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Australia eventually failed to bat out their full 50 overs and were bowled out for 264. Throughout his innings, Alex Carey played aggressively against India’s spinners, particularly troubling Kuldeep Yadav. His footwork and precise timing allowed him to dominate Kuldeep, who ended with the most expensive figures among India’s slow bowlers.
Earlier, Steve Smith had won the toss and opted to bat, hoping to put up a big total. However, India’s bowlers, led by Shami’s 3/48, ensured that Australia never ran away with the game. Varun Chakaravarthy also played a key role, taking two wickets, including the prized scalp of Travis Head, who made a quickfire 39 off 33 balls.
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The winner of this semi-final will face either New Zealand or South Africa in the grand finale on Sunday. If India emerges victorious, the final will take place in Dubai, but if Australia wins, the summit clash will be held in Lahore.
