Rohit Sharma-led Indian Cricket team defeated Steve Smith's Australia by four wickets in the first semi-final of the ongoing edition of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which was being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on March 4 (Tuesday). The Men in Blue have now qualified for the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time. With this victory, Rohit Sharma has created a legendary record that no other captain has ever done in history.
Rohit Sharma creates a legendary world record
The Indian captain with the win over Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final became the first captain in cricket history to lead his team to the finals of all ICC tournaments. He first led India in the ICC World Test Championship in 2023 and later that year Indian played the ODI World Cup 2023 final, where Australia shattered the Indian dream. However, Rohit Sharma put an end to India's 11-year-long trophy drought in the T20 World Cup 2024 and now with India reaching the finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Rohit has done what no other captain in history could.
Rohit Sharma praised Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma praised the team for their performance and highlighted how clinical it was. He also praised Virat Kohli for his stand with Shreyas Iyer and the match-winning knock. He said the whole dressing room was calm when Kohli was batting.
"Till the last ball is bowled, nothing is certain. Halfway through the game, we felt it was a reasonable score, and we have to bat really really well. I thought we were very clinical with the bat. We were very calm and composed. The wicket looked better, and that has been the nature of the surfaces. The one which played today was slightly better. We just want to play good cricket and not read too much into what the pitch is doing. [Six bowling options] That is something I really wanted, to have six bowling options and then batting till No. 8 as well. This is something we discussed while making the squad," said Rohit Sharma in the post-match presentation.
"Credit to everyone involved. When you have six bowling options, you can choose from anyone you want. [On Kohli] He has done it for us for so many years. We were very calm. We wanted that big stand which Shreyas and Virat had. Then the shots by Hardik in the end were very important. [Looking ahead] Very happy with that. When you want to play the final, you want all your guys in form. That is something that gives us a lot of confidence. We will not think too much about it. When the time comes, we will think about it. I also want the guys to relax," Indian captain added.
When India defeated Australia, they recorded the most successful run chase against them in the ICC tournament knockout match in history. With KL Rahul hitting the winning runs with a six and singing his own redemption song, India crossed the finish line in spectacular fashion. After winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 but losing in the 2017 final, India advanced to the final for the third time in a row. After placing second in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, this was India's third straight final appearance in ICC white-ball competitions.
