"Gaddafi Stadium Knocked Out of Champions Trophy": Social Media Reacts as India Reaches Final

Dubai: India’s four-wicket win over Australia in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has not only secured their place in the final but also confirmed that the title clash will take place in Dubai, not Lahore. Due to a pre-agreed hybrid hosting model, India was scheduled to play all its matches in Dubai, meaning that if they qualified for the final, it would automatically be held at the Dubai International Stadium instead of Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Following India’s win, social media erupted with reactions, as fans humorously pointed out that Gaddafi Stadium had been "knocked out" of the tournament despite Pakistan being the official host.

India Enters Third Consecutive Champions Trophy Final

India’s chase of 265 runs was led by *Virat Kohli (84), KL Rahul (42), and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls)**, guiding the team to a comfortable victory with 11 balls to spare. With this win, India has now secured a spot in the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time, showcasing its consistency in ICC events.

India will now face the winner of the semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa, which is scheduled to take place in Lahore on March 6. The final will be played in Dubai on March 9.

Social Media Buzzes with Memes and Reactions

With the final being shifted away from Pakistan, cricket fans took to social media to poke fun at the situation. Several posts humorously referred to Gaddafi Stadium being "eliminated" from the tournament, even though Pakistan had already been knocked out in the group stage after losses to New Zealand and India.

A widely shared post read:
"Gaddafi Stadium knocked out of the Champions Trophy before even hosting a final!"

Another fan posted:
"Pakistan was the host, but India is deciding the venue!"

Why India Did Not Travel to Pakistan

Before the tournament began, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ICC agreed on a hybrid hosting model due to diplomatic and security concerns. As part of this arrangement, India’s matches were scheduled exclusively in Dubai, and if India qualified for the final, it was to be held there instead of Lahore.

With India now securing their place in the final, the match has officially been relocated to Dubai, ensuring that Pakistan will not host the grand finale.

Final Match on March 9 in Dubai

With India’s place in the final confirmed, all attention now shifts to the second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa. The winner will take on India in the final on March 9, where the Men in Blue will aim for their third Champions Trophy title.

As the tournament approaches its climax, memes and fan reactions continue to flood social media, adding to the excitement ahead of the final showdown.