ISN
Sports

India top Champions Trophy 2025 Group A with unbeaten run, set to face Australia in semi-final

India completed a flawless ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A campaign, finishing unbeaten with three wins from three to set up a semi-final showdown against Australia. Their 44-run victory over New Zealand in Dubai confirmed top spot with six points, powered by Varun Chakravarthy’s decisive 5 for 42 and Shreyas Iyer’s composed 79. Kane Williamson’s 81 proved insufficient as India’s spin attack sealed control. The campaign featured dominant performances throughout. Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 101 and Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul secured victory over Bangladesh, while Virat Kohli’s match-winning century against Pakistan highlighted the group stage, during which he became the fastest batter to 14,000 ODI runs. India’s balanced attack—combining spin depth with disciplined pace—proved particularly effective on Dubai surfaces, reinforcing their status as title contenders heading into the knockout stage.

Muskan Zahra
Muskan Zahra
5 min read
India top Champions Trophy 2025 Group A with unbeaten run, set to face Australia in semi-final
India secured their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after finishing top of Group A with three wins from three matches. The 44-run victory over New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 2 confirmed India as group winners with six points, setting up a semi-final clash against Australia on March 4. Varun Chakravarthy delivered the standout performance in the final group match, taking 5/42 as India bowled out New Zealand for 205 while defending 249. Kane Williamson's 81 was not enough as New Zealand's batting collapsed against India's spin attack. Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with 79, supported by Hardik Pandya's 45. India's group campaign began with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh on February 20. Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 101, while Mohammed Shami took 5/53 to restrict Bangladesh to 228. India chased down the target in 46.3 overs. The high-profile clash against Pakistan on February 23 saw Virat Kohli produce a match-winning unbeaten 100. Kohli reached 14,000 ODI runs during his innings, the fastest player to the milestone. India's bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav's 3/40, had earlier restricted Pakistan to 241, with Saud Shakeel top-scoring on 62. India completed the chase with 45 balls remaining. New Zealand, despite losing to India, also qualified for the semi-finals as the second-placed team in Group A with four points. They will face South Africa in the second semi-final in Lahore on March 5. India's spin-bowling combination of Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja proved decisive throughout the group stage, particularly on the Dubai pitches that offered turn during the middle overs. The pace attack, led by Shami and Hardik Pandya, provided effective partnerships in the powerplay phases. All three of India's matches were played in Dubai under a hybrid hosting arrangement, with the rest of the tournament held across venues in Pakistan. The arrangement was implemented after India declined to travel to Pakistan for security reasons. India's progression to the knockout rounds continues their strong form in ICC ODI events since 2023, having reached the semi-finals of all major tournaments during this period.
CricketIndia
Muskan Zahra

Muskan Zahra

ISN Contributor (International Affairs & Sports)

Muskan Zahra is an ISN Contributor focusing on International Affairs and Sports. She writes on global politics, international developments, and the social, political, and cultural dimensions of sports. Her work aims to present complex global issues in a clear, accessible, and engaging manner for a wide audience.