Virat Kohli reveals what helped him steer India to victory in Champions Trophy semi-final

Once again, Virat Kohli played a responsible and stellar innings on a big stage. His remarkable 84 runs guided India to the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time.

Australia set a challenging target of 265 runs on a tough pitch in Dubai. Considering the pitch conditions, it was not an easy target. However, Kohli displayed immense patience and crafted an innings of 84 runs off 98 balls. Despite hitting only five boundaries, it was the calm and composed nature of his innings that made it stand out. After the match, Kohli said, “I wasn’t frustrated at all. I was happy playing singles. When a batter feels proud to take singles in the gaps, that’s when you know they’re playing good cricket and are ready to build big partnerships.”

Throughout the tournament, the Dubai pitch has been a stern test for batters. As a result, teams have opted to play with more spinners, and India was no exception. In the first innings, India’s spinners helped restrict Australia to just 264 runs, with exceptional control.

This target was ideal for India, as Kohli stood firm as the backbone of the batting lineup. He explained, “I adapt my game based on the conditions. The most important thing on this wicket is to build big partnerships, and I tried to focus on forming as many good partnerships as possible.”

Although Kohli came very close to his 52nd ODI century, he wasn’t overly concerned with personal milestones. He shared, “I never think about milestones. If a century comes, great. If not, no problem. The most important thing is winning for the team. The joy in the dressing room today is what matters most.”

Now, India is just one step away from the final target. With Kohli's patient batting and the team’s spin attack, India has made it to the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time. The next goal is clear: to win the trophy!