Virat Kohli Roars in Gautam Gambhir's Ears as Hardik Pandya's Monster Six Shatters Royal Box Window near Jay Shah
India was in firm control of the chase until Virat Kohli was dismissed in the 43rd over. T...
India was in firm control of the chase until Virat Kohli was dismissed in the 43rd over. The game suddenly became tense as the equation came down to a run a ball in the final five overs, with Australia needing just two more wickets to expose India's tail-end. However, Hardik Pandya completely turned the game around with three consecutive strikes, all of them sixes, two of which were against Adam Zampa. The entire stadium erupted as Kohli could barely contain his emotions, screaming in excitement as he celebrated with head coach Gautam Gambhir. This thrilling semifinal clash in the 2025 Champions Trophy will surely go down as one of the most memorable moments in cricket history.
Fast bowler Nathan Ellis quickly put Hardik under pressure in the 44th over with his slower deliveries, but the latter broke free from the shackles in the next over against leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha as he smashed the youngster for a 106-metre six in the fifth ball. Hardik cleared his front leg to bludgeons the overpitched delivery downtown for a maximum. The six landed straight inside the Royal Box, where ICC president Jay Shah was seated. The former BCCI secretary was all smiles as he picked up the ball and threw it back into the ground.
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After another over of struggle against Ellis, Hardik took on another leg-spinner, Zampa, this time for consecutive sixes. He thumped the first, a towering six, over long-off against a fuller delivery right in the slot, and handed the killer blow on the final ball of the over with a 101-metre six straight down the ground.
Kohli, who lost the opportunity to carve out the winning run in the match after building the momentum in favour of India with his valiant knock of 84, could not control his emotions as he screamed in Gambhir's ears after Hardik's back-to-back sixes. Gambhir, amid the loud noise from the Dubai crowd, remained unfazed at Kohli's reaction as he applauded Hardik's efforts from the dressing room.
Who will India face in the semifinal?
Eventually, Ellis got the better of Hardik in the 48th over, but the damage was already done. KL Rahul wrapped up the chase in the first ball of the penultimate over as he smashed Glenn Maxwell for a six over long-on as India beat Australia by four wickets.
India now await the results of the second semifinal, between New Zealand and South Africa, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. The Proteas completed an unbeaten run to the semis, topping Group B with two wins and a draw, while New Zealand finished second in Group A after a solitary loss against India. The final will be held on Sunday in Dubai.
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