Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals: Team India ignores fans' hopes, beats New Zealand to set up showdown with Australia
With this win by Team India against New Zealand, the semi-final lineup for this year's Champions Trophy is set. India will face Australia in the semi-final in Dubai, while New Zealand, finishing second in their group, will head to Lahore to take on South Africa.
Ahead of India's final ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group-stage match against New Zealand, many fans surprisingly hoped for an Indian loss ¡ª all to avoid a high-stakes semi-final clash with Australia. However, the Men in Blue had other plans. On March 2, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India defended their target of 249 by bowling out the Kiwis for 205 in 45.3 overs, securing a convincing 44-run victory.
With this win, the semi-final lineup for this year's Champions Trophy is set. From Group B, Australia and South Africa advanced, while India and New Zealand qualified from Group A.
The stage is set for the last 4?? to compete for the ? next!
¡ª ICC (@ICC) March 2, 2025
?? ? ??
?? ? ??#ChampionsTrophy | ??: https://t.co/qd9rXYANc6 pic.twitter.com/Xke135eBef
Semi-final is set
The victory for the Rohit Sharma-led side also meant they will face Aussies in the semi-final in Dubai, while New Zealand, finishing second in their group, will head to Lahore to take on South Africa.
Had the Kiwis defeated India, they would have topped Group A and faced Australia, leaving India to clash with South Africa ¡ª a scenario many fans preferred. But India's dominant performance ensured they finished at the top of their group, setting up a much-anticipated showdown with the Aussies in the first semi-final in Dubai on March 4, while New Zealand will fly to Lahore to take on South Africa on March 5.
Fans react
Despite their hopes for a different path, fans took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to react ¡ª many recalling the heartbreak of India's 2023 ODI World Cup final loss against Australia, largely due to Travis Head's stunning performance.
IND vs AUS semifinal ?#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/HAejg4tq6z
¡ª Desi Bhayo (@desi_bhayo88) March 2, 2025
One fan wrote, "Ind vs Aus in semis... Bye."
Ind vs Aus in semis
¡ª Day dreamer (@introvert_hubro) March 2, 2025
Bye pic.twitter.com/60Wo9Cztj6
Another said, "Here we go again (crying emoji)."
Here we go again ?#INDvsAUS https://t.co/M6SHqISUIk pic.twitter.com/jwkr4pBXrZ
¡ª Sunny (@CricketKiBaat01) March 2, 2025
One hopeful supporter added, "WC 23 Revenge is ON!"
WC 23 Revenge is ON ?#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/hDGOklog1d
¡ª R | RC16 - Beast Mode ON ? (@CharanjeeviFan_) March 2, 2025
Teams
India squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
Australia squad: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith(c), Josh Inglis(w), Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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