India enters ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final beating Australia

India entered the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final beating Australia in a thrilling contest last night in Dubai.

Chasing the 260 for 6 by Australia – the highest score of the latest tournament, India eased through with 11 balls to spare and 4 wickets in hand.

K.L. Rahul ensured India’s success with 42 off 34 balls and finished the victory with a six whilst Hardik Pandya fired a quick 28 off 24 balls.

However it was a belligerent innings from Virat Kohli, 84 off 98 balls, which laid the foundation for India’s victory after Subman Giull and Captain Rohit Sharma fell with the score at 43.

A good partnership was broken by Adam Zampa, crashing through the stumps of Shreyas Iyer (45), leaving Virat Kohli at the crease with Axar Patel.

When Axar was bowled by Nathan Ellis, he was replaced by K.L. Rahul, who took to his task of holding down one end.

India seized the momentum towards the end of the Australia innings. After removing Captain Steve Smith for 73, bowled by Mohammed Shami, the dangerous Glenn Maxwell went soon after for just seven, bowled by Axar.

And Australia lost their final four wickets in the last five overs, picking up 29 runs in the process.

Earlier, Travis Head had come out firing, making 39 off 33 balls before being caught by Gill off Varun Chakravarthy. It followed a tentative start from fellow opener Cooper Connolly, given the nod in place of Matt Short, and who failed to trouble the scorers in his nine balls – removed in the third over, caught by Rahul off Shami.

Marnus Labuschagne was next to depart, putting in a useful 29 off 36 balls, followed by Josh Inglis for 11.

Alex Carey’s arrival at the crease heralded the start of a valuable 50 partnership with Smith.

And after Smith and Maxwell were dismissed, Carey looked to push the run-rate on, eventually run out for 61 in the 48th over, and Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis both fell in the last two overs as Australia were bowled out with three balls remaining.