ndia’s captain Rohit Sharma had luck on his side early in the run chase against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, as he survived two dropped catches in the powerplay. Australian fielders missed golden opportunities, allowing the Indian opener to continue his aggressive start.
The first chance came off Nathan Ellis’s bowling when Rohit mistimed a cut shot straight to backward point. Cooper Connolly had a regulation catch but failed to pouch it cleanly, letting the Indian skipper off the hook. The second drop happened when Ben Dwarshuis found the outside edge of Rohit’s bat, but the catch was once again spilled. Fans couldn’t help but recall the 2023 ODI World Cup final when Travis Head took a stunning catch to dismiss Rohit, contrasting today’s reprieve.
Meanwhile, in the first innings, Australia posted a competitive total of 264 after choosing to bat first. They fared better against India’s spin attack compared to New Zealand but still struggled in the middle overs.
Key moments from Australia’s innings:
Australia lost Connolly for a duck early on, putting them under pressure. Travis Head, who was dropped on zero, fought back with an aggressive 39 before falling to Varun Chakravarthy. Captain Steve Smith anchored the innings with a crucial knock of 73, forming three half-century partnerships. Alex Carey played a crucial counter-attacking innings, ensuring Australia remained competitive. Mohammed Shami dismissed Smith with a low full toss, halting Australia’s momentum in the final phase of the innings.
India will now look to capitalize on the dropped chances as they chase 265 for a place in the final. With Rohit Sharma surviving two early scares, will the Indian skipper make Australia pay for their mistakes?
