With Team India winning the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Australia on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium, the final will also be hosted by the same venue despite the tournament being staged by Pakistan. As a result, fans have taken massive jibes at the PCB as the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will not get to host the decider due to the BCCI refusing to send the men's team to Pakistan.
Team India had lost a record 14th toss in the massive semi-final clash against Australia on Tuesday in Dubai. Fifties from Steve Smith and Alex Carey lifted their side to a competitive total of 264 in 49.3 overs while Mohammed Shami starred with the ball with figures of 10-0-48-3. Despite missing their first-choice pacers, Australia took the game quite deep but lost in the end by four wickets
Steve Smith and co. dismissed the Indian openers cheaply inside the first ten overs but Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer roared back with a risk-free 91-run stand. Adam Zampa pegged the Men in Blue back with Iyer's wicket. However, KL Rahul took the initiative and brought India close to victory. Although Kohli fell for 84 at the doorstep of the run-chase, heroics from Hardik Pandya and Rahul hit a winning six to drag their side over the line.
Meanwhile, here's how the netizens trolled PCB, with Dubai set to host the CT 2025 final instead of Lahore
"We were very calm and composed" - Rohit Sharma
At the post-match presentation, skipper Rohit Sharma stated that they thought it was a reasonable score to chase at the halfway mark. The 37-year-old said they didn't want to read too much into what the pitch did and stick to their plans.
"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."
