Australia skipper Steve Smith admitted that his team fell short of a competitive total in their Champions Trophy semifinal loss against India in Dubai. Despite strong performances from Smith and Alex Carey, Australia lacked crucial partnerships to push their score beyond 300, which Smith believes could have changed the outcome.

Lack of Big Partnerships Cost Australia

Australia seemed on course to post the first 300-plus total of the tournament but faltered at key moments. Smith acknowledged that losing wickets at crucial junctures prevented them from capitalizing on a decent start.

“I think we made the right call at the toss. We had opportunities to get past 300, but we kept losing wickets at critical moments. If we had extended one of those partnerships a bit longer, we could have put more pressure on India with a bigger target,” Smith explained.

He also pointed out that the tired nature of the pitch made batting challenging, with no team crossing the 300-run mark in the competition so far.

Smith’s Dismissal and Carey’s Run Out Proved Costly

Australia got off to a solid start, with Travis Head looking dangerous before falling to Varun Chakravarthy. Smith and Marnus Labuschagne built a 56-run partnership, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Smith’s departure on 73—bowled by a full toss from Mohammed Shami—was a major setback, as was Carey’s run out after a well-made 61.

“Missing a full toss at that stage wasn’t ideal,” Smith admitted. “I wanted to put pressure on the seamers while rotating the strike against spin, but I didn’t execute it well. If I had batted deeper, we could have reached close to 300, which would have put India under more pressure.”

Missed Chances in the Field

Australia’s fielding lapses also proved costly, especially a dropped catch of Virat Kohli by Glenn Maxwell when he was on 51. Kohli went on to score a crucial 84, guiding India closer to the target. Late cameos from KL Rahul (42* off 34) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24) ensured India completed the chase in 48.1 overs.

“We needed to take our chances, especially when defending 260. Dropped catches happen, but in pressure situations, those moments can make the difference,” Smith said.

Bowlers Showed Promise Despite Inexperience

Despite the loss, Smith praised his bowling unit for stepping up in a high-pressure tournament. He believes the exposure to a big event like the Champions Trophy will help the younger players grow.

“We have a solid record in ICC tournaments, and I think the team showed great intent. Our bowling attack, despite being inexperienced, performed well throughout the tournament. Playing against a top side like India in such a high-stakes game will only make them better for the future,” he concluded.

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