Team India secured their spot in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 with an impressive four-wicket victory over Australia on Tuesday. Virat Kohli delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 84 runs in the chase of 265, with valuable contributions from Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and KL Rahul throughout his innings. The match concluded with a thrilling finish, as Hardik Pandya's clutch performance under pressure sealed the win for India; he scored a rapid 28 runs when the team required quick boundaries to alleviate the pressure of the run chase.

Although the victory was a team effort, Hardik's audacious batting took center stage, keeping his teammates in suspense.

As India pursued a challenging target, they encountered difficulties in the later stages of the innings. This is when Hardik Pandya stepped up. The all-rounder, renowned for his game-changing abilities, delivered a sensational 28 runs off just 24 balls, featuring three impressive sixes and a four, with two consecutive sixes off Adam Zampa significantly shifting the momentum in favor of India.

Tension ran high in dressing room

As Hardik approached the crease, the Indian dressing room was filled with anxious expressions. In a video posted by the Indian team on Instagram, Hardik Pandey was seen conversing with Axar Patel regarding the final overs of the match.

"I was smiling. Honestly, I didn't anticipate hitting two sixes. I was confident it would occur at some point. However, I was aware that the atmosphere in the dressing room might have been a bit tense. I found myself chuckling internally," Pandya confessed.

Axar humorously described the atmosphere within the dressing room, noting the worried faces and how many were urging Hardik and Rahul to rotate the strike.

"Were you not considering what was happening inside? We were all thinking, ‘let's run twos, let's run singles.’

"But I had faith in you. I was simply observing the situation around me," Axar remarked.

KL Rahul, who significantly contributed with an unbeaten 42 runs from 34 deliveries, recognized the impact of Hardik's rapid scoring in alleviating the pressure on the team.

"The match became tighter than we had anticipated. Hardik's timely sixes were vital. They relieved a considerable amount of pressure from my shoulders. I am truly pleased that we managed to secure the victory," Rahul remarked.

With this triumph, India advanced to the Champions Trophy final, preparing for an exhilarating showdown against New Zealand for the prestigious title.

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