The star batter Virat Kohli and in form, Shreyas Iyer are steadily marching forward towards chase in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Australia.

After losing the wickets of openers, the duo are building a partnership in the pursuit of chasing the 265-run target set by Australia.

India lost the wickets of Shubman Gill (8) and Rohit Sharma (28) to Dwarshuis and Connolly within the powerplay crumbling at 43/2. However, they went on to score 55 runs in the first 10 overs.

Their partnership has helped the side to cross 100+ runs in the 20th over.

FIFTY Partnership!

Virat Kohli 🤝 Shreyas Iyer

Two in-form batters at the crease!

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Batting first, Travis Head and Cooper Connolly opened the inning while Shami made the bowling attack.

Mohammed Shami dropped Travis Head for a duck but made a bounce back in the third over by dismissing Cooper Connolly for a nine-ball duck. Though Australia lost an early wicket, their key player Travis Head made a stand and started to add runs for the team.

While Steve Smith and Travis Head’s combination looked dangerous, Varun Chakravarthy made a necessary breakthrough by dismissing dangerous Travis Head for 39 runs off the very first delivery he bowled against the left-handed batter in Champions Trophy 2025.

After surviving a couple of dismissal chances, Travis Head was expected to be a game-changer for Australia but Rohit made a surprise move by introducing Varun in the ninth over.

In the second delivery of the ninth over, Varun Chakravarthy tossed up full on off and middle while Head got forward to loft and miscued it. Gill who stood at long off position ran forward and took an impressive catch to dismiss Head.

In the very first legal delivery of the inning, Mohammed Shami drops Travis Head for a duck later Travis Head survives a direct throw from Jadeja.

Following Head’s dismissal, Australia captain Steve Smith took charge and started to add runs while partnering with Marnus Labuschagne. The duo added 56 runs for the next wicket.

Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership by dismissing Labuschagne for 29 runs. Though Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell departed without making an impact on the scoreboard, Smith’s 73 and Alex Carey’s 61 pushed Australia to score 264 runs after losing 10 wickets with three balls left to bowl.