The first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 between India and Australia is witnessing a thrilling contest as the Indian bowling unit looks to contain the aggressive Australian batting lineup. After a fiery start by Travis Head, who smashed multiple boundaries and looked set for a big score, Varun Chakravarthy made an immediate impact by dismissing him on his very first delivery. The off-spinner, who was brought into the squad in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal and replaced Nitish Rana in the previous game, has once again proven his worth.
Australia opted to bat first after winning the toss and quickly lost opener Cooper Connolly to Mohammed Shami, leaving them at 4/1. However, Head counterattacked, racing to 39 off 33 balls with five fours and two sixes, putting pressure on the Indian bowlers. He particularly targeted Shami and Hardik Pandya, hitting the latter for a six and a four in the same over. As a response, Indian captain Rohit Sharma introduced Kuldeep Yadav early, but it was Varun Chakravarthy who broke the partnership, dismissing Head with his very first ball, caught by Shubman Gill.
Chakravarthy’s inclusion in the squad has proven to be a game-changer for India. In their previous encounter against New Zealand, he delivered a match-winning performance, claiming five wickets and helping India secure a 44-run victory to top Group A. That victory set up this high-stakes semi-final clash with Australia.
India will now look to build on this breakthrough and restrict Australia to a manageable total. With Steven Smith still at the crease, India’s bowlers will aim to capitalize on the early wickets and prevent another big partnership. The winner of this match will advance to the grand final, where they will face either South Africa or New Zealand.
The match remains in balance as Australia, despite losing two wickets, continue to push forward. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if India can maintain their dominance and book a spot in the final.
