Chase master Virat Kohli anchored a tricky 265 run chase against ICC Men’s World Cup Champions Australia with a  gritty half-century, to pave the path for India’s entry into the final of the Champions Trophy for the third time in succession at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE, on Tuesday.

India’s chase began in earnest, reaching 30 without loss inside five overs until Shubman Gill (8) inside-edged Ben Dwarshuis back onto his stumps for eight. Steve Smith’s decision to bring on Cooper Connolly paid off instantly as the left arm spinner caught Indian skipper Rohit Sharma (28) in front of the wicket after having previously been reprieved by Connolly himself and Marnus Labuschagne in the outfield early on.

The former Indian skipper in the company of Shreyas Iyer stabilised the innings with a 91-run stand for the third wicket and in between powerfully pulled leg spinner Adam Zampa to the fence to reach a 53-ball fifty at the end of the 25th over. In the process he shattered Sachin Tendulkar's record for scoring the most 50-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments of 23.  

A well set Iyer however was bowled by Adam Zampa for 45 soon after

Glenn Maxwell, who dropped Kohli on 51 at short cover, struck the Indian number three on his pad during the 32nd over with the score 160 for three, but the faintest of edges denied Australia a fourth wicket.

Medium pacer Nathan Ellis castled Axar Patel (27) with 87 runs still required for victory. The next five overs were then milked for 22 runs by Kohli and KL Rahul to take India to 200 for four with 10 overs to go.

Kohli after putting Zampa into the stands fell two balls into the 43rd over, caught by Dwarshuis at Long-om while attempting another big one of the leg spinner not before becoming the top scorer for Group A winners with  84 runs to his credit.

India, which still needed 41 runs at this stage in 44 balls, were well served by Hardik Pandya’s  brisk 28 inclusive of three sixes in the company of Rahul as the two stitched a crucial 34-run stand, before the former was dismissed by Nathan Ellis.

Rahul in the end finished the game off with a six off Maxwell as India won by four wickets with 11 balls to spare. tipped the balance in India’s favour during the chase. The 2002 and 2013 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy winners will aim to become the first nation to win the competition three times, when they take on the winner of South Africa and New Zealand in the second semis on Wednesday.

Earlier Captain Steve Smith and Alex Carey contrasting fifties saw Australia score 264 before being dismissed in the final over of the innings. Experienced pacer Mohammed Shami (3/48) led the Indian attack, along with spinners Varun Chakravarthy (2/49) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/40), to ensure their opponents never got away from them.

The first Australian wicket fell at the end of the third over as Cooper Connolly feathered Shami through to wicket keeper KL Rahul for a nine-ball duck, given out on review.

Travis Head, given a life on nought by Shami with his first legal delivery, attempted to counter the Indian bowlers’ tight start, hitting both Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav for six, before holing out to Shubman Gill at long-off for 39 off Chakravarthy.

Smith and Marnus Labuschagne put on 56 for the third wicket as they took Australia onto 110 before Labuschagne was trapped LBW by Jadeja for 29.

Smith, who was dropped by Shami on 36, went past 50 in the 26th over but lost partner Josh Inglis seven balls later to Jadeja when the Australian wicketkeeper found Kohli at short cover for 11.

Shami ended Smith’s stay at the crease in bizarre fashion, bowling the Australian skipper with a full toss for 73 for his second wicket, to leave the opposition 198 for five inside 37 overs.

In between the wickets of Glenn Maxwell – bowled by Axar Patel for seven – and Ben Dwarshuis – caught at deep midwicket by Shreyas Iyer off Varun for 19 – Alex Carey reached his half century off 48 balls.

Carey’s stint at the crease was ended on 61 after a brilliant direct hit by Iyer with Australia eventually bowled out for 264 following Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa being dismissed late on.

Brief Scores (Semi-finals 1): Australia - 264 all out in 49.3 Overs (Steven Smith 73 (96b: 4x4s, 1x6), Alex Carey 61 (57b: 8x4s, 1x6), Travis Head 39 (33b: 5x4s, 2x6s); Mohammed Shami 3/48, Ravindra Jadeja 2/40, Varun Chakravarthy 2/49, Hardik Pandya 1/40, Axar Patel 1/43) lost to India – 267/6 in 48.1 Overs (Virat Kohli 84 (98b: 5x4s), Shreyas Iyer 45 (62b: 3x4s), KL Rahul 42* (34b: 2x4s, 2x6s); Nathan Ellis 2/49, Adam Zampa 2/60, Cooper Connolly 1/37,  Ben Dwarshuis 1/39) by four wickets and 11 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (India).

Photo Cover: Player of the Match Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer set on resurrecting the Indian innings after the loss of two earlier wickets against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals (Photo courtesy ICC/BCCI)

Photo Above: Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami celebrates one of his three wickets which included rival skipper Steve Smith with his team mates