After Australia faced elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, a heartfelt moment unfolded between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. On Tuesday, India triumphed over Australia by four wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, booking their place in the final against New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, on March 9 at the same location.
In the wake of the match, Steve Smith announced his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs). A touching video circulating on social media captured the moment when Kohli embraced Smith warmly. During their exchange, Kohli asked Smith if this was indeed his last ODI, to which Smith confirmed with a “Yes,” prompting Kohli’s expression to shift before he shared a heartfelt hug with his fellow cricketer.
Despite Smith’s commendable effort of 73 runs off 96 balls, which included four boundaries and a six, Australia’s target of 265 ultimately proved manageable for India, who reached the score with 11 balls to spare.
After the match, Smith reflected on his cricketing journey, stating that Test cricket remains a top priority for him, especially with the World Test Championship final against South Africa approaching in June. He expressed gratitude for the experiences he has had, noting that winning two World Cups and the memories with his teammates were particular highlights of his career.
Smith, who played 170 ODIs, finished with 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28, including 12 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He also took 28 wickets at an average of 34.67. As he steps away from ODIs, Smith mentioned that it feels like the right moment to begin preparing for the future, specifically for the 2027 World Cup.
