Hardik Pandya reveals why he smiled despite coming out in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi -final

India entered the Champions Trophy 2025 final after a sweet victory over Australia in the semi-finals. Since then, a goal of 265 – the highest against Australia in ICC ODI events – thanks to significant contributions from a number of their blows. While Virat Kohli (84) and Shreyas Iyer (45) had put the platform, the pressure was to end the game on the shoulders of Hardik Pandya and KL RAHUL. Pandya hit three large sixes in a decisive como and helped India get across the line.

As the race hunted down to the cord and India, which demanded more than Run-A-ball in the last 10 overs, there were apparently some nervous faces in the dressing room.

After going out with India who needed only six races to win, Pandya went into the dressing room all smiles. When he spoke after the game, Pandya joked with colleagues Allrounder Axar Patel about this.

“I smiled. I mean, I didn’t think about beating two sixes. I knew it would happen at any time. But I knew people must have got a little tense in the dressing room. I laughed a little inside,” Pandya said, talking in a video shared by the Indian cricket team on social media.

Pandya played a valuable commo of 28 out of 24 balls hit a limit and three sixes. Kl Rahul remained undefeated until the end of 42 out of 34.

Axar Patel then elaborated the nervousness inside the dressing room and what people inside thought.

“You (Pandya) didn’t think about what would happen inside? People thought, ‘Hello, Run two, Run Singles’,” Axar told Pandya.

“But I knew. I had confidence in you. I just observed the environment around me,” Axar added.

India will take on New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday, March 9. Should they win, it would be a record third title for them.