With their base in Dubai — despite the tournament being hosted by Pakistan — Team India has turned the stadium into their home ground, adapting seamlessly to different pitches and securing a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. However, their toughest challenge now awaits — the final against New Zealand.
Was the road to the final a smooth ride, or did the Men in Blue face a few bumps along the way? Led by Rohit Sharma, India clinched four wins from as many matches — despite losing all the tosses. Let's revisit their journey to the final, which included an iconic victory over arch-rivals Pakistan and overcoming the 'Head'-ache posed by Australia.
In the opening match, India began their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh. While many expected an easy win for India — and it seemed that way at first — but a gritty century from Towhid Hridoy (100 off 118) and a steady knock by Jaker Ali (68 off 114) gave Bangladesh a fighting chance, helping them post a total of 228.
Mohammed Shami led the bowling attack with an impressive 5/53, while Harshit Rana picked up three wickets and Axar Patel added two.
In response, Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101*, along with classy contributions from Rohit Sharma (41 off 36) and KL Rahul (41 off 47), guided India to victory with 21 balls to spare — a confident start to their road to the final.
In the showdown against arch-rivals Pakistan, India put on a stellar performance. Batting first, Pakistan struggled to build momentum and were bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 62 off 76 balls, followed by skipper Mohammad Rizwan's 46 off 77 and Khushdil Shah’s 38 off 39.
Kuldeep Yadav shone with the ball, weaving his magic to claim three crucial wickets, playing a key role in restricting the Men in Green's total.
In response, Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) provided solid contributions, but it was a vintage Virat Kohli masterclass. Not only did this match get him back to his form, his unbeaten 100 also sealed the deal in guiding India to a comfortable six-wicket victory and eliminating Pakistan from the tournament they were hosting.?
This was the game everyone expected to go down to the wire, as India faced their familiar foes — New Zealand. Rohit Sharma's side encountered a different challenge — a battle for the top spot in Group A, with both teams already through to the semi-finals.
For the first time in the tournament, India were sent in to bat first, posting a competitive 249/9, thanks to Shreyas Iyer's solid 79 and Hardik Pandya's crucial 45. Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul.?
However, India's response with the ball was even stronger. Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin rattled the Kiwis, as he took a stunning five-wicket haul, bowling New Zealand out for just 205. Kane Williamson top-scored with 81 off 120 balls, but the rest of the batters could only offer brief cameos. With this win, India marched into the semi-finals with their unbeaten record intact.?
The semi-final brought another 'Head'-ache for India — quite literally — with Travis Head, known for his game-changing performances against India, including his heroics in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Despite the Aussies missing their main pace attack, Team India remained wary of the Australian threat.A
ked to bowl first, the Indian bowlers maintained pressure throughout, restricting Australia to 264 all out in 50 overs. Mohammed Shami led the attack with three crucial wickets, while spinners Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with two each at key moments. Captain Steven Smith anchored the innings with a steady 73 off 96 balls, while Alex Carey provided late fireworks with a quick 61 off 57.?
hasing 265, Virat Kohli once again proved to be India's backbone, crafting a composed 84 off 98 balls. Crucial contributions from Axar Patel (27 off 30), KL Rahul (42 off 34), and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24) kept the scoreboard ticking, guiding India to victory with 11 balls to spare — securing their spot in the Champions Trophy final in style.
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