KL Rahul and Gautam Gambhir expressed clear frustration when Virat Kohli fell short of reaching his century during the Champions Trophy semifinal match between India and Australia.
New Delhi: Virat Kohli delivered another impressive performance, leading India to a four-wicket win against Australia in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy 2025 held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 4. Facing a challenging situation at 43/2 following the early departures of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, Kohli stepped up to guide India to victory.
Kohli managed to handle the pressure and successfully responded to the Australian bowling attack. During his innings, he remained calm despite the loss of teammates and skillfully prolonged the game on a pitch that was advantageous for spinners. He achieved a well-deserved half-century and stayed concentrated, showcasing impressive chase strategy. Although he seemed on track for a century, he ultimately fell short.
As the necessary run rate neared a run-a-ball, KL Rahul, who was batting at the opposite end, was successfully hitting boundaries, which helped ease the pressure. Observing Rahul’s effective aggression, Virat Kohli decided to increase the scoring pace by playing more aerial shots.
Adam Zampa delivered a tossed-up googly outside the off-stump. Expecting the pitch, Kohli tried to execute a slog sweep towards cow corner. However, the ball struck the lower part of the bat, leading to a more direct path. Ben Dwarshuis, stationed at long-on, easily caught the ball.
After Kohli was out, KL Rahul’s response stood out. He looked quite upset and told Kohli, “Main maar raha tha na” Coach Gautam Gambhir shared a similar feeling as Kohli walked back to the dressing room.
“Arey yaar kya zarurat thi, maar toh raha tha woh” (There wasn’t a need for you to hit, KL Rahul was hitting),” Gautam Gambhir was seen speaking to Kohli.
Kohli scored an impressive 84 runs off 98 balls, achieving a strike rate of around 85 and hitting five boundaries. His steady performance established a strong base for India’s pursuit. After Kohli was out, KL Rahul, who finished not out with 42 runs, along with Hardik Pandya, who added 28 runs, successfully led India to victory, completing the chase with four wickets remaining. This win propelled India into the Champions Trophy final.
