Dubai [UAE]: Star Indian batter Virat Kohli showcased his class once again with a match-winning knock of 84 off 98 balls against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal, steering India into the finals. Following his sublime performance, Virat expressed his deep love for cricket and batting, emphasizing that as long as this passion remains alive, everything else will fall into place.
Decorated with five boundaries and numerous singles and doubles, Virat’s innings highlighted his exceptional run-chasing abilities and undiminished hunger for runs. His performance outclassed Australia, earning him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Speaking to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after the game, Virat said, “I just love playing this game, I just love batting. As long as love for the game and batting is alive, all other things can take care of themselves. You are not going into a desperate situation and put your head down, thank god. Just keep working towards what the team wants, you will have results like these more often than not.”
Discussing his approach to the sport at this stage of his career, Virat emphasized the excitement of playing big matches and the importance of adapting to match situations. Known for his fitness and running between the wickets, Virat explained, “For me, at this stage of my career, it is about getting up for these games, getting excited, coming out here, hopefully doing the job for the team, working hard as much as I can, run hard between the wickets, play according to the situation. When all these things come together and it comes off, you feel great.”
He also praised his teammates for their contributions. “Obviously as a team, you feel good when people step up through the innings. Hardik (Pandya) hit those crucial shots at a nervous point for us. KL (Rahul) played outstandingly to close the game. Shreyas had a fine partnership with me. All-around effort counts. People are in a great space. You qualify for finals, a couple of days off, everything to look forward to,” Virat added.
Match Summary:
Australia, having won the toss and opted to bat first, posted a total of 264 in 49.3 overs. Travis Head scored 39 off 33 balls, while Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Alex Carey made valuable contributions. Carey top-scored with 61 off 57 balls before a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer ended his knock.
For India, Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 48 runs. Varun Chakravarthy (2/49) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/40) also played vital roles, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya claimed a wicket each.
During the chase, India faced early setbacks, losing skipper Rohit Sharma (28) and Shubman Gill (8) quickly. However, a 91-run partnership between Virat and Shreyas Iyer (45 off 62 balls) stabilized the innings. Virat also shared key partnerships with Axar Patel (27) and KL Rahul (42*), ensuring India’s path to victory.
Hardik Pandya’s fiery cameo of 28 runs off 24 balls, featuring a four and three sixes, helped India seal the match at 267/6 in 48.1 overs. Nathan Ellis (2/48) and Adam Zampa (2/60) were the leading bowlers for Australia.
With this victory, India has set up a thrilling final clash against New Zealand and South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy.