Virat Kohli Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar as India Defeat Australia to Enter Champions Trophy Final

Dubai: Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli scripted history with a match-winning 84-run knock off 98 balls, leading India to a four-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium.

With this victory, India secured a place in their third consecutive Champions Trophy final, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa on March 9.

Match Summary: Kohli Anchors India's Chase

Chasing 265, India suffered early setbacks as Rohit Sharma (12) and Shubman Gill (9) departed cheaply. However, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (45) built a 91-run partnership to stabilize the innings.

Despite looking set for a century, Kohli fell to Adam Zampa while attempting an aggressive shot. With his dismissal, the chase briefly looked uncertain, but KL Rahul (42) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls)* ensured India reached the target with 11 balls to spare.

Kohli’s Record-Breaking Feat

During his innings, Virat Kohli became only the second batter in ODI history to score over 8,000 runs while chasing, joining the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in this elite club. Kohli achieved the milestone in just 159 innings, making him the fastest player ever to reach this landmark.

Most Runs in ODI Chases:

1. Sachin Tendulkar – 8,720 runs (232 innings)

2. Virat Kohli – 8,000+ runs (159 innings)
3. Rohit Sharma – 6,115 runs

Additionally, Kohli now holds the record for most half-centuries in ICC ODI tournaments, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. He also overtook Shikhar Dhawan as India’s highest run-scorer in Champions Trophy history, while Chris Gayle remains the all-time leading run-getter in the tournament with 791 runs.

Most Centuries While Chasing in ODIs:

1. Virat Kohli – 22 centuries

2. Sachin Tendulkar – 17 centuries
3. Rohit Sharma – 16 centuries

Australia’s Innings: Smith and Carey Resist, Shami Strikes

Opting to bat first, Australia posted 264 on the board, powered by a solid 79-run knock from Steve Smith and 61 from Alex Carey. However, the Indian bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings.

Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja claimed two wickets each, restricting Australia from setting a bigger total.

India’s Journey to the Final

With this victory, India remains undefeated in the tournament, setting up a much-anticipated final clash on March 9 in Dubai. Kohli’s form and India’s balanced attack give them a strong chance to secure their third Champions Trophy title.

The team will now focus on preparing for the final, where they will face either New Zealand or South Africa, aiming to continue their dominance in global ICC events.