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Right then, India have cruised to the finale of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by defeating their arch-rivals Australia in a fine fashion. However, with a depleted bowling attack, the Aussies, true to their fighting nature, did fight hard but were just short of plans. So now, the venue of the finale has been locked in. The Dubai International Stadium will be the host as India awaits their opponent for the summit clash. The second semi-final features South Africa taking on New Zealand. Both teams are evenly matched and that promises to be a belter of a game as well. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium will be the host. Who will fly to Dubai to face India in the finale? Will it be the Proteas? Or can the Kiwis run over them? The first ball is scheduled to be bowled on Wednesday, March 5th, at 9 am GMT. But do make sure you tune in with us an hour before for all the pre-match analysis and build-up. Until then, cheers!

The captain of India, Rohit Sharma says that till the last ball is bowled, nothing is certain. Says that halfway through the stage, they felt that it was a reasonable score as the nature of the pitch was such that you cannot play the shots you want to play. Thinks they were really calm and composed in the chase. Adds that the surfaces in Dubai are very uncertain and says this one played a bit better, while the one that was used against New Zealand was a bit on the slower side. Mentions about the talks going on in the dressing room to play good cricket. Says they wanted to have six bowling options and to have batting till number 8. Credits everyone involved in making the team as well. On Virat Kohli, he says that Virat has done the job for them for so many years now and is delighted to see him doing the task time and again for the country whenever needed. Says they needed a big partnership and got a few important ones in the middle overs that steered them past the line. Is happy and states that you want the guys to perform well before the finals. Appreciates his teammates by saying that these guys have made an impact whenever they have the opportunity, which gives them a lot of confidence.

The captain of Australia, Steve Smith says that the bowlers did a good job and the spinners squeezed things in the middle overs that helped them take the game deep and reckons it was a difficult wicket to start on with the bat. Mentions that the wicket remained more or less similar in both innings, and was a bit two-faced and helped the spinners. Adds that they should have got to 280, which could have got them more in the game. Reckons that they played exceptionally well against England and the inexperienced bowling lineup did a great job and hopefully, they will continue the same in the future.

Virat Kohli is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning stint with the bat. Virat starts by saying that his knock was similar to the one against Pakistan and it was more about rotating strike and building partnerships and that it's all dependent on the conditions. Mentions that his timing and composure at the crease pleased him today and he wasn't trying for too much. Adds that when you play these big games and take it deep with wickets in hands, the opposition starts to give in and even with a deficit of 20 or so balls, the set batters can kick on and get the win. Mentions that when you try and not to think about the milestones, you feel good with the win, and at this moment in his career, those milestones don't matter much.

... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...

Earlier in the game, Rohit Sharma lost the toss for the 14th straight time in ODIs, and Steve Smith opted to bat first. India picked up an early wicket thanks to Mohammad Shami, but then came the counter-punch from Travis Head, forcing an early change. Varun came on and got Head's big wicket, forcing Australia to build a stand rather than hit their way through. The Aussies did just that as Smith and Marnus built up a stand. Right throughout the middle phase of the innings, the Aussies started to build stands, but India managed to peg them back with a wicket. Smith missed out on a ton, and it was Alex Carey who looked the best of the batters, but even he couldn't stay on for the death overs, and India managed to bowl Australia out for 264 runs, 20 or so less than what they were heading towards.

With the top five batters chewing up more than half the portion of the team's chase, the focus shifted towards consolidation in the latter stages of the innings. Virat Kohli reached a milestone by scoring his 74th ODI half-century, further solidifying his reputation as a prolific batter when it comes to big events like these. After Axar Patel's departure following a handy knock, KL Rahul joined Kohli at the crease, and the duo formed a critical partnership that gradually wrested control of the match from Australia. While Kohli, unbothered, played a pivotal role in building the innings, he fell short of completing the chase. KL Rahul stepped up decisively, striking the final runs and guiding India to victory, effectively neutralizing the Australian bowling efforts and steering India towards success. Hardik Pandya too, played a crucial cameo by injecting the momentum back with a few lusty blows.

Seeking a breakthrough, Steve Smith strategically introduced his spin bowlers. Adam Zampa successfully disrupted the ongoing partnership by dismissing Shreyas Iyer, providing Australia with a critical wicket. Axar Patel, promoted up the batting order, demonstrated remarkable composure and defensive technique. Instead of attempting risky shots, he focused on building another significant partnership with Virat Kohli. Kohli, maintaining his characteristic run chase approach, continued to rotate the strike by consistently running singles in the mid overs.

Kohli's crucial role in preventing a potential collapse was particularly noteworthy, showcasing his ability to anchor the scoring during a critical phase of the match. Shreyas Iyer joined him, and the two brought in that much-required calm, with both punctuating the score with occasional boundaries as well. However, the pitch was not that easy to bat on, with the ball holding up a bit and the odd one deviating away. In these circumstances, a 91-run stand between Kohli and Iyer proved invaluable as it dashed off the pressure from the shoulders of the middle order.

India's innings commenced with Rohit Sharma providing an assertive start, methodically finding boundaries and establishing early momentum. The team encountered a setback with Shubman Gill's dismissal during the Powerplay, which could have disrupted their batting rhythm. However, Virat Kohli's experienced presence stabilized the innings, ensuring consistent run accumulation. By the ten-over mark, India had strategically positioned themselves at 55/2.

Winners in 2013, runners-up in 2017, and now through to the summit clash in 2025 as well. This marks India's third consecutive Champions Trophy finale appearance, and their overall fifth, including 2000 and 2002. A job well done by the Men In Blue in the end, but throughout, it was a close game, with both sides going neck and neck. However, a few fielding lapses from the Aussies made their task even harder.

SIX! INDIA ARE THROUGH TO THE FINAL OF THE ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025! KL Rahul hits the glory shot and the celebrations start in the Indian dressing room. Glenn Maxwell darts it in, fuller and on the middle and leg stump line. KL Rahul shimmies down a bit and lofts it over cow corner for a cracking six. Hits it clean as a whistle and clears the ropes with ease to get his team over the line.

Around the wicket, speared in fuller and on middle, Ravindra Jadeja pushes it to mid on and scoots off for a quick single. Oh, wait! An overthrow as Ben Dwarshuis picks up the initial throw on the back-up and throws it wayward to the keeper's end. With no proper back up there, the batters take another run.

Ravindra Jadeja walks out to bat now.

OUT! GONE! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Ellis bowls it fuller again, and gets the ball to jag back in a touch, around middle and leg. Hardik Pandya tries to kill the game with the glory shot, but ends up mistiming it badly. Hits straight in the air, but the connection is off the toe-end, hence, he doesn't quite get the distance. Ends up offering a dolly of a catch to Glenn Maxwell who moves a bit to his left from long on. Takes a simple reverse cup catch. India need 6 off 13 balls now.

OUT! GONE! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Ellis bowls it fuller again, and gets the ball to jag back in a touch, around middle and leg. Hardik Pandya tries to kill the game with the glory shot, but ends up mistiming it badly. Hits straight in the air, but the connection is off the toe-end, hence, he doesn't quite get the distance. Ends up offering a dolly of a catch to Glenn Maxwell who moves a bit to his left from long on. Takes a simple reverse cup catch. India need 6 off 13 balls now.

Pace on, too full and outside off, almost a yorker. Hardik Pandya fails to carve it out.