Team India’s journey to the semis of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

The group stages of the Champions Trophy are done, and now only four teams remain - India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. The first semi-final will be played on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium, and it will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, as India take on Australia. Team India have been solid so far in the competition. They have got through another group stage in an ICC tournament with a hundred percent win record. Rohit Sharma’s side picked up clinical wins over Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand to cruise through to the semi-finals. Here’s a look at how team India’s journey has been to the semis. 

Here's a look at India's journey to semi-final of ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Brushing aside Bangladesh

India started their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy against Bangladesh, bowling first in that game. They wreaked havoc in the powerplay, as Najmul Shanto’s side were 35/5 at one stage with Axar Patel on a hat-trick. Bangladesh recovered through Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy, but Mohammad Shami returned in the death overs to end up with a fifer. 

In response, India got a quickfire start from Rohit Sharma, who scored 41 before he was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed. The middle overs got a bit tricky as Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel all got starts but were dismissed cheaply. However, Shubman Gill stood firm from one end and played the long innings. He carried on from a good home series against England to score an unbeaten century. Gill, alongside Rahul, helped India chase down a target of 229 with nearly four overs to spare. 

Peaking against Pakistan

The second game for team India was against the arch-rivals Pakistan. They were asked to bowl first once again. Babar and Imam got a start for Pakistan, but both were dismissed within the powerplay. Saud Shakeel and Rizwan batted too slowly, as the Indian kept a tight squeeze on the opponents. Pakistan got a late dash from all-rounder Khusdil Shah to get to 241. 

In reply, India got some brisk boundaries from Rohit Sharma before he was cleaned up by a superb yorker from Shaheen Afridi. Shubman Gill eased his way to 46 before he was knocked over by a solid carrom ball from Abrar Ahmed. Despite the two wickets, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer combined to help steer India towards victory. Iyer got a fifty and almost stayed till the end, but was dismissed by Khusdil Shah. With the game result in no doubt, the only anti-climatic moment of the chase was if Virat Kohli would get his hundred. With two needed to win, the former Indian skipper scored a boundary through long-off to notch up his 51st century. 

No-nonsense win over New Zealand

Both India and New Zealand had already qualified, but this third group game would decide which team tops the charts. This time India batted first and were reduced to 30/3, but Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel built up the innings from there. They batted slowly but ensured the team lost no further wickets in that tricky phase post the powerplay. Shreyas Iyer scored a superb 79, and Hardik Pandya scored a run-a-ball 45, later on, to help India finish with 249 runs. 

In reply, New Zealand looked comfortable at one stage with Will Young and Kane Williamson batting in the middle, but Varun Chakravarthy wrecked their plans. He got the wicket of Will Young and then India suffocated the Kiwi middle order with spin. On a slow, low surface that was turning quite a bit, India bowled nearly 40 overs of spin as the opposition had no answer. Chakravarthy was the star of the show with a fifer, but all the others chipped in as India claimed a comfortable 44-run victory in the end.