Shami's Early Strike Sets the Tone – Lala Delivers a Dream Over | ScoreWaves

The Champions Trophy semifinal between India and Australia was more than just a high-stakes clash – it was a shot at redemption for the Men in Blue. Ever since that heartbreaking World Cup final defeat in Ahmedabad nearly two years ago, Indian fans had been waiting for a chance to settle the score. With this backdrop, the hype surrounding the match was off the charts, and anticipation had reached a boiling point.

But for the 14th consecutive time, Rohit Sharma had no luck at the toss, and this time, Australian skipper Steve Smith made the obvious choice – bat first. The Dubai pitch was expected to be a dream for batters early on, but as the game wore on, it was likely to slow down, bringing spinners into play. Add in the sweltering 33°C heat, and it was clear that this semifinal would be as much about endurance as it was about skill. 

With India stacking their lineup with four spinners, the pace attack leaned heavily on Mohammed Shami, who was making his return to the squad after nearly a year out with a knee injury. But if there were any doubts about rustiness, Shami silenced them almost immediately. In just the third over, he struck gold. Cooper Connolly, filling in for the injured Matt Short, barely had time to settle in before edging a delivery outside off-stump straight into KL Rahul’s gloves. With just four runs on the board, the 21-year-old had to walk back for a duck, while Shami gave India a dream start.