India vs Australia Champions Trophy Semi-Final: Preview, Pitch Report, and Predicted XI
Image credits: AFP/PTI Photos
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter as India takes on Australia in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. Both teams have been impressive in the group stages, with India winning all three of their matches and Australia securing a win against England and having two rain-affected matches. The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, has been in fine form, with their captain and vice-captain Shubman Gill playing fearless cricket at the top. Virat Kohli has also found his form, scoring a century against Pakistan, while the middle order has looked solid with Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel contributing crucial runs.
Australia, on the other hand, has been dealing with injuries to their key players, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Marcus Stoinis. However, they have shown their ability to defy the odds and thrive in unfamiliar conditions, as seen in the 2023 World Cup. The team will be looking to Travis Head, who has been in exceptional form, to lead their batting charge. Steve Smith, the Australian captain, has also been a thorn in India's side, and his tactical battle with Rohit Sharma will be crucial in the semi-final.
The pitch in Dubai is expected to be slow and sluggish, with spin playing a crucial role. India has an advantage in this regard, with their spinners, including Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, likely to trouble the Australian batsmen. The team may also consider playing Varun Chakravarthy, who took a five-wicket haul in his first game of the tournament against New Zealand. Australia, on the other hand, may look to include an additional spinner, with Tanveer Sangha and Cooper Connolly in contention.
The key battles to watch out for in the semi-final will be between Rohit Sharma and Spencer Johnson, Travis Head and Varun Chakravarthy, and Shreyas Iyer and Adam Zampa. The Indian team will also be looking to Hardik Pandya to provide a late-innings boost, while Australia will be relying on Nathan Ellis to curb Pandya's fireworks. The toss will also be crucial, with the team winning the toss likely to opt to bat first and set a target for the opposition.
Here are the predicted XIs for both teams:
- India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy
- Australia: Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
The Champions Trophy has been a platform for teams to showcase their skills and strategy, and this semi-final will be no exception. The pitch in Dubai will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the match, and the team that adapts better to the conditions will have an upper hand. The spin department will be key, with both teams having quality spinners who can trouble the opposition batsmen.
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