Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir showered praise on star batter Virat Kohli following his masterful knock in India’s victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal. Kohli’s composed 84-run innings helped India chase down 265 in tricky conditions, securing a spot in the tournament final against either New Zealand or South Africa.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir lauded Kohli’s adaptability and cricketing intelligence. “He is a phenomenal one-day cricketer. He knows how to plan his runs, whether he is batting first or chasing. He adapts to conditions really quickly, and that’s why experience and high-quality players are very important. It is the reason he has such an incredible record in one-day cricket, and I hope he continues this in the future as well.”
Addressing concerns about Kohli’s struggles against leg-spinners in previous ODIs, Gambhir defended the veteran batter. “He has already scored a hundred and an eighty in this tournament. When you’ve played 300 ODIs, you are bound to get out to certain kinds of bowlers occasionally. Rather than overanalyzing, we should acknowledge his consistency.”
Gambhir also emphasized the unwavering faith in both Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma despite their struggles in Test cricket. “They have been exceptional in the ODI format for years. There was never any doubt that they would perform in major tournaments. Their experience, hunger, and leadership bring immense value to the dressing room.”
Match Recap:
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Despite losing an early wicket, Travis Head (39 off 33) and Steve Smith provided stability. Smith built crucial partnerships with Marnus Labuschagne (29) and Alex Carey (61). Australia was eventually bowled out for 264 in 49.3 overs.
For India, Mohammed Shami led the bowling attack with 3/48, while Varun Chakravarthy (2/49) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/40) also contributed effectively. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya chipped in with one wicket each.
During the run chase, India faced early setbacks as Rohit Sharma (28) and Shubman Gill (8) departed quickly, leaving the team at 43/2. Kohli then steadied the innings with a crucial 91-run stand alongside Shreyas Iyer (45). Axar Patel (27) and KL Rahul (42*) provided valuable support. Hardik Pandya’s aggressive 28 off 24 balls sealed the victory, guiding India to 267/6 in 48.1 overs.
Nathan Ellis (2/48) and Adam Zampa (2/60) were the standout bowlers for Australia, but their efforts were not enough to stop India’s dominant chase.
India now awaits their final opponent, aiming to claim the ICC Champions Trophy title after 12 years.