Australia vs India, 1st Semi-Final at Dubai, Champions Trophy, Mar 04 2025 - Match Result

That's that from us tonight. India qualify for the final and will face the winner of the second semi-final which will be played tomorrow between South Africa and New Zealand. We will be back nice and early for that game. But till then, this is me Ashish Pant, signing off on behalf of Gnasher, Ranjith and Chandan. Ciao!

Steven Smith, the Australia captain: The bowlers did a really good job. The spinners squeezed them and took the game deeper. [Pitch] It was a tricky wicket to start on and we did a good job. It played similar throughout the game. A bit of hold and skid for spinners. It was a little two-paced. It wasn't the easiest batting condition. We could have put a few more runs on the board. If we had 280-plus, it could have been different. We were one wicket down too many down at each stage of the game. [On CT'25] Just the way we have come together. The bowling was quite inexperienced. Some of the batters stood up. The England game, they came up strong. They will continue to get bigger and better.

Rohit Sharma, the India captain: Till the last ball is bowled, nothing is certain. Halfway through the game, we felt it was a reasonable score, and we have to bat really really well. I thought we were very clinical with the bat. We were very calm and composed. The wicket looked better, and that has been the nature of the surfaces. The one which played today was slightly better. We just want to play good cricket and not read too much into what the pitch is doing. [Six bowling options] That is something I really wanted, to have six bowling options and then batting till No. 8 as well. This is something we discussed while making the squad. Credit to everyone involved. When you have six bowling options, you can choose from anyone you want. [On Kohli] He has done it for us for so many years. We were very calm. We wanted that big stand which Shreyas and Virat had. Then the shots by Hardik in the end were very important. [Looking ahead] Very happy with that. When you want to play the final, you want all your guys in form. That is something that gives us a lot of confidence. We will not think too much about it. When the time comes, we will think about it. I also want the guys to relax.

Virat Kohli is the player of the match: [On the innings] I think it was pretty similar to the other day against Pakistan as well. I think there was about seven fours when I got a hundred. For me, it's about just understanding the conditions, preparing my game accordingly, just rotating strike. Because partnerships on this pitch are the most important thing and my only effort that day and today was to string in enough partnerships. I think the time that I got out, the plan was to get 20 more and then try and finish it off in a couple of fours. Usually that's the template I follow but sometimes you can't execute things how you want to. It's all dependent on the conditions the pitch tells me, how the cricket needs to be played and then I just switch on and play accordingly.

[What aspect of the innings pleased him most] I think my timing. The composure at the crease, I wasn't feeling desperate. I was pretty happy knocking ones around. When as a batsman you start taking pride in hitting those singles into the gaps, that's when you know you're playing good cricket. You know you're in for a big partnership and settle the nerves down a little bit and head towards chasing the total down. That for me in the game against Pakistan and today, that was the most pleasing factor for me.

[On controlling the chase] As I said, this game is all about pressure, especially big games like semis and finals. If you go deep into the innings and you have enough wickets in hand, the opposition usually gives in and then the game becomes easier. It's very important to control your impulses while the game is going on. For me, what's important is to know the number of overs and the number of runs left. Even if the gap is 25-30 and it comes to six and over, I'm not bothered as long as we have seven or six wickets in hand. Because then you know, two set batters and we can turn the game around. And the opposition can only come into the game with wickets, so that was the plan out there. [Are you playing this format as well as you've ever played?] Well, I don't know. That's up to you guys to bring down. I don't know. I've never focused on those things. When you don't think of those milestones, they happen along the way towards victory. For me, it's all about taking pride and doing the job for the team. And if I get to the three-figure mark, great. If not, nights like these, you win. It's a happy dressing room. You go back. You feel grateful for what happened out there. And then you put your head down, work hard and go all over again. So that's what I've done all my career. For me, those things don't matter anymore. For me, it's just about stepping up and hopefully doing the job for the team.

Presentation time

Ravi: "India against Australia in Champions Trophy knockouts. 3 wins 0 losses. QFs in 1998 and 2000. SF in 2025."

Rohit Sharma becomes the first captain to reach the finals of all ICC tournaments.

World Test Championship 2023

Cricket World Cup 2023

T20 World Cup 2024

Champions Trophy 2025

8.05pm Slow and steady wins the race. A calm, calculated chase and India have done this easy. At no point did they look rushed in the chase. India lost two wickets early, but Virat Kohli, as he so often does in chases, held his own. He crafted a 91-run stand with Shreyas Iyer and then effective stands with Axar Patel and KL Rahul. While he for 84, Rahul and Hardik Pandya ensured there were no panic stations and India won the game by four wickets and 11 balls to spare. They will now play the final right here in Dubai against the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand.

India need just four to win. Maxwell to bowl the final over

Jadeja in at No. 8

Just six needed.

Kevin: "Honestly, that is just poor bowling, two balls in the slot, when all he needed was a couple of skiddy wrong'uns to keep the pressure on. Very amateur from Australia's most experienced bowler."

India need 12 off 18 now.

There is long off, long on and a fielder right between the two

Zampa to bowl out

Ellis comes on now