• Fans hailed KL Rahul for his gritty knock against Australia in the first semifinal of Champions Trophy 2025.

  • Rahul smashed unbeaten 42 off 34 balls for India.

Fans hail KL Rahul for his gritty knock against Australia in Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal
Fans hail KL Rahul after his gritty knock against Australia in Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal (PC: X)

In a riveting semifinal match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India secured a nail-biting four-wicket victory over Australia, thanks in large part to a crucial unbeaten knock by KL Rahul. The match, played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (March 4), saw Rahul’s composed 42 runs from 34 balls seal the win for India, propelling them into their fifth Champions Trophy final.

Match summary

Australia, led by Steve Smith, set a competitive target of 264 runs after being bowled out in 48.1 overs. Smith and Alex Carey were the standout performers for Australia, scoring 73 and 61 runs, respectively. India’s chase was anchored by Virat Kohli, who scored an impressive 84 runs off 98 balls. However, his dismissal in the 43rd over injected new life into the contest. Despite this setback, Rahul’s calm and aggressive batting ensured India’s victory with 11 balls to spare.

KL Rahul’s impact

Rahul’s innings was pivotal in stabilizing India’s chase after Kohli’s departure. He took on the role of aggressor, hitting two fours and two sixes to ease the pressure. His conversation with Kohli during a drinks break highlighted his strategy, where he encouraged Kohli to stay at the crease while he took calculated risks to accelerate the scoring. Rahul’s ability to adapt to different batting positions has been a hallmark of his career, and this match was no exception.

Reactions of fans

The emotional response from fans was palpable as Rahul hit the winning six off Glenn Maxwell in the 49th over.

Also READ: WATCH – KL Rahul’s match-winning six against Australia sends India to Champions Trophy 2025 final

Also READ: Twitter reactions – Virat Kohli shines as India edge out Australia in a nervy chase to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 final

Subscribe to Cricket Times on YouTube to watch Exclusive Interviews, Podcasts, Daily News Updates & Explainers.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Featured India KL Rahul Twitter Reactions

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
Anirudh is the Head of Content at CricketTimes.com. He is a seasoned journalist and content writer with 12 years of experience in the field of cricket. With over 9,000 published articles under his belt, Anirudh brings a creative and strategic approach to his work, always striving to deliver content that resonates with audiences. A die-hard sports fan who loves playing, watching and talking about cricket. Cricket is his Religion & 'Sachin Tendulkar' his GOD. His motto of life is Eat, Sleep, Cricket, REPEAT!! You can write to him at anirudh@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.