Yuvraj Singh-led side books semifinal berth with a stunning net-run-rate turnaround; Pakistan clash looms next
India Champions have scripted a dramatic turnaround in the ongoing World Championship of Legends 2025 in England, storming back into title contention after being on the verge of elimination. The defending champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, faced mounting pressure following three consecutive losses but kept their campaign alive with a commanding five-wicket win over West Indies Champions in their final league match on Tuesday.
Needing not just a victory but a swift chase to boost their net run-rate, India overhauled a 145-run target in just 13.2 overs, propelling themselves ahead of England and West Indies in the points table and securing a semifinal berth.
Their opponent in the semifinal? Arch-rivals Pakistan Champions—a highly anticipated clash now set for Thursday. Interestingly, the group stage fixture between the two teams was earlier cancelled after several Indian players withdrew, citing diplomatic tensions as the reason. That match awarded one point each, contributing to India's path to qualification.
India's campaign began with a cancelled match against Pakistan, followed by a heavy 88-run defeat to South Africa. Losses to Australia and hosts England further pushed them to the brink, leaving their final game against West Indies as a must-win—by a considerable margin.
Electing to bowl first, India put in a disciplined effort with the ball. Despite a counter-attacking unbeaten 74 off 43 balls from West Indies stalwart Kieron Pollard, India restricted their opponents to 144/9. Piyush Chawla starred with figures of 3/18 from four overs, while Stuart Binny (2/17) and Varun Aaron (2 wickets) provided valuable support.
To remain in the tournament, India needed to chase the target in 14.1 overs or fewer. However, early setbacks saw the team reduced to 52/4 by the eighth over, with both openers—Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan—falling inside the Powerplay.
What followed was an electrifying counterattack. Stuart Binny hammered a 21-ball half-century, while skipper Yuvraj chipped in with a quickfire 21 off 11. Yusuf Pathan finished the job in style, blasting an unbeaten 21 off just 7 deliveries, including the winning six off the second ball of the 14th over.
With the momentum firmly back on their side, India Champions now face Pakistan Champions in a high-stakes semifinal showdown, with a place in the final on the line.
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