Champions Trophy Semi-Final: India’s experienced batsman Virat Kohli was extremely pleased with his performance and the team’s victory. He played a crucial role in India’s four-wicket win over Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Kohli scored a brilliant 84 off 98 balls, laying the foundation for India’s successful chase of 265 runs. After the match, he expressed satisfaction with his batting and how he maintained composure under pressure.
‘I Was Not in a Rush, Played with a Calm Mind’
Reflecting on his innings, Kohli said, “I was not feeling desperate, and I was pretty happy knocking ones around. When you start taking pride in hitting singles into the gaps, you know you are playing good cricket and are ready for a big partnership.”
He further added that this approach helps in maintaining a stable mindset, which ultimately benefits the team. “It settles down the nerves. That was the most pleasing factor for me today.”
Adapting to the Conditions is Key
Kohli emphasized that his strategy is always to read the conditions and adjust his gameplay accordingly.
“For me, it is about understanding the conditions, preparing my game accordingly, and rotating strike. Big partnerships on this pitch were the most important thing, and my effort today was to string enough partnerships together.”
“The pitch tells me how the game needs to be played, and then I just switch on and play accordingly. When you go deep into the innings with enough wickets in hand, the opposition usually gives in, and the game becomes easier.”
Missed Century, But Team’s Victory Matters More
Kohli missed out on his 52nd ODI century by just 16 runs, but he made it clear that individual milestones are secondary to the team’s success.
“I am never focused on those things [milestones]. When you do not think of them, they happen along the way toward victory. For me, it is all about taking pride in doing the job for the team. If I reach the three-figure mark, that’s great; if not, nights like these—when the team wins—are what truly matter.”
Australian Captain Smith Reflects on the Loss
Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, who top-scored for his team with 73, admitted that losing wickets at crucial moments cost them the game.
“It was not the easiest batting pitch, which is why the scores were what they were. That being said, I think we could have put a few more runs on the board.”
“We lost a couple of wickets at crucial times. If we had gotten to 280+, the game could have been different. It always felt like we were one wicket too many down at each stage. If we could have extended one of those partnerships, we would have reached 280, putting more pressure on the opposition.”
India will now play the final on Sunday against either South Africa or New Zealand. With Kohli’s outstanding form, Team India will be confident as they aim for their third Champions Trophy title.
