Champions Trophy: Spin-laden India set to challenge determined Australia in semifinals
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Synopsis
On March 4, 2025, India and Australia will clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals, with both teams vying for a spot in the final. India enters as the unbeaten group stage leader, while Australia showcases resilience despite setbacks. The match promises high-stakes cricket.
Key Takeaways
- India remains unbeaten in the tournament.
- Australia's depth shines through despite missing key players.
- Varun Chakravarthy's late inclusion might be pivotal.
- Josh Inglis has been in excellent form for Australia.
- The match will be a battle of historic rivals.
Dubai, March 3 (NationPress) - A thrilling encounter awaits as India and Australia face off in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, both teams eager to secure a place in the prestigious final on March 9.
India has showcased exceptional performance, completing the group stage without a loss. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they commenced their journey with a hard-fought six-wicket victory over Bangladesh, bolstered by an unbeaten 101 from Shubman Gill and a five-wicket haul from Mohammed Shami.
They continued their strong form against their rivals, Pakistan, where Virat Kohli scored a spectacular century, leading to a six-wicket win in a chase of 241 runs. In their match against New Zealand, despite facing challenges, India triumphed with Shreyas Iyer scoring 79, helping them reach 249/9. Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket performance ensured a comfortable victory, solidifying their semifinal place.
Historically, in their last two knockout encounters, Australia triumphed over India, winning the 2023 World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup final. India’s strategy of employing a spin-heavy lineup suited to Dubai's slow conditions raised some eyebrows, yet their choices were justified in the previous match. The late inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy, who is relatively new to the 50-over format, might prove crucial.
On the flip side, Australia's campaign has been marked by resilience. Despite missing key players, they have demonstrated significant depth and mental strength. Their journey began with a record chase against England, where Josh Inglis's brilliant unbeaten 120 led them to a remarkable win in Lahore.
Inclement weather affected their subsequent matches, resulting in an abandoned game against South Africa and a rain-impacted fixture against Afghanistan, which ended without a result, allowing them to advance to the semifinals.
With Matt Short sidelined due to a quad injury sustained against Afghanistan, Australia has brought in spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly. Originally a reserve, he joins the squad just in time for the high-stakes match against India.
In Short's absence, Australia faces a dilemma in finding a new opening partner. Jake Fraser-McGurk is the only specialist opener available but has struggled in ODIs, raising questions about his selection. His inclusion would reduce their bowling options, potentially leading selectors to consider Connolly's left-arm spin, which could be advantageous in Dubai. If Fraser-McGurk does not open, Josh Inglis, in good form, may be asked to step up.
As these two cricketing giants meet in Dubai, they bring with them their rich history, intense rivalry, and the ambition of reaching the final. India’s batting lineup, featuring Gill, Iyer, and Kohli, is complemented by a formidable bowling attack led by Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Chakravarthy. Australia, despite their challenges, remains a formidable opponent, with Inglis, Matthew Short, and Alex Carey excelling with the bat, while Adam Zampa and Ben Dwarshuis add firepower with the ball.
When: Tuesday, March 4
Where: Dubai International Stadium
Time: The match is set to commence at 2:30 PM IST, with the toss at 2 PM.
Broadcast details: The match will be aired on Star Sports Network.
Live Streaming: Viewers can catch the action live on JioHotstar.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, K.L. Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly.
