AI Simulation, IND=C vs AUS-C | Robin Uthappa's half-century guides India Champions to beat Australia Champions in WCL 2025 game

Pitch and Weather

The pitch of Headingley offered a decent bounce, with quick outfield, which will mostly favour the batters in the first half of the game. But it made things quite easier for the spinners as the game progressed to the second half.

It was a dry and sunny afternoon, which offered decisive assistance for the batters in the first innings, compelling the toss-winning side to bat first.

Toss

India Champions won the toss and decided to bat first, which proved right in their favour as the Aussies failed to chase the target.

Lineups

IND-C: Robin Uthappa (WK), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh (C), Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Pawan Negi, Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun

AUS-C: Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, D’Arcy Short, Ben Dunk (WK), Callum Ferguson, Ben Cutting, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brett Lee (C), Peter Siddle, Steve O’Keefe

Match Report

The opening pair of Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan provided a strong 54-run opening start to India in just 5.5 overs. The brilliant opening partnership came to an end when Dhawan (25-ball 33) lofted to long-off and was caught by Callum Ferguson off Coulter-Nile on the fifth ball of the sixth over. After 22 runs and 2.5 overs later, Uthappa, after scoring 41 off just 26 balls, fell prey to Steve O’Keefe while sweeping towards midwicket. Then came a 26-run stand for the third wicket between Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, one of India’s famous duos in their active cricketing days. Raina (21-ball 27) and Yuvraj’s 21 off 12 balls were followed by Yusuf Pathan’s unbeaten 26-run knock in the end. India Champions managed to post a decent total of 178/6. O’Keefe (2/24) was the most economical bowler for Australia Champions, alongside a wicket each picked by skipper Brett Lee and Ben Cutting.

Australia had a decent opening start of 39 runs in just 3.4 overs by the opening pair Chris Lynn (36 off 19 balls) and Shaun Marsh (28 off 24 balls). It ended when Irfan Pathan trapped Marsh in an LBW on the fourth ball of the fourth over. Following Marsh’s dismissal, Lynn top-edged and caught at deep fine leg off R Vinay Kumar.  Furthermore, D’Arcy Short’s 19-run knock, followed by Ben Cutting’s 13-ball 24, couldn’t help Australia chase down the target, and they ended up scoring 166/8 in the entire 20 overs. Irfan Pathan and Vinay Kumar played a pivotal role in India’s target-defence, with two wickets each. With this win, the India Champions have also claimed their first success in the tournament’s current edition.

Player of the Match

India Champions’ wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his aggressive and tone-setting knock of 41 runs off just 26 balls. He also smashed six fours and a six in his fiery knock.

Scorecard