Champions Trophy: Team India defeated Australia in the semi-finals and made it to the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. All-rounder Hardik Pandya played a major role in this victory. After the match, Rohit Sharma was seen imitating Hardik on the field.
Champions Trophy: India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya did not top score for the team in a thrilling four-wicket win over Australia in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025, but he played a key role in chasing the target of 265 runs. Thanks to his fiery innings of 28 runs, India won the match with 11 balls to spare and reached the final of the Champions Trophy for the third consecutive time. Hardik arrived at the crease when India needed 49 runs off 44 balls to win. The team had just lost its set batsman Virat Kohli, who was dismissed after scoring 84 runs.
Hardik hit a six to Jay Shah
Hardik found his rhythm by hitting three big sixes off Nathan Ellis' slow balls. These sixes by Hardik turned the match in India's favour. A six against Tanveer Sangha on the fifth ball of the 45th over went straight into the Royal Box of the Dubai International Stadium, where ICC chairman Jay Shah was sitting. The former BCCI secretary was smiling after seeing that shot and he quickly picked up the ball and threw it back into the field.
The video is going viral on social media
In an unseen footage that surfaced on social media on Thursday, India captain Rohit Sharma is seen imitating Hardik's six in front of Hardik, head coach Gautam Gambhir and Shah after the match against Australia in Dubai. When Shah was watching Rohit's imitation very carefully and a big smile was on his face. Shah was also talking to Rohit in between. Gambhir was also smiling at that time.
India to face New Zealand in the final
India will now take on New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday. The Black Caps made it to the final after beating South Africa by 50 runs in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday. India have a 61-50 record against the Kiwis in ODI cricket and a 2-1 record in the Champions Trophy. This includes the first group stage win in the current tournament. However, in their only other encounter in an ICC tournament, New Zealand beat India by four wickets in the final in Nairobi 25 years ago.
