Dubai: Cricketing powerhouses India and Australia are set to lock horns in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The much-anticipated encounter will determine the first finalist of the tournament.
India has been the most dominant side in the competition so far, topping Group A with an all-win record. The Rohit Sharma-led side enters the semifinal on the back of a commanding 44-run victory over New Zealand.
Shreyas Iyer's scintillating 79, complemented by Hardik Pandya's 45 and Axar Patel's quickfire 42, powered India to a strong total. In the bowling department, Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket haul proved instrumental in sealing the win.
Rohit Sharma has struggled with consistency in the tournament so far, with scores of 41 against Bangladesh, 20 against Pakistan, and 15 against New Zealand. The team will expect a big knock from the skipper in this crucial match.
Shubman Gill, on the other hand, has been in fine form, scoring an unbeaten 101 against Bangladesh. However, he managed 46 against Pakistan and just 2 against New Zealand. The opening partnership will be crucial in setting the tone for India’s innings.
Virat Kohli will take the No. 3 spot. Despite a few underwhelming performances, he scored a century against Pakistan, proving his ability to deliver under pressure. A potential change may occur at No. 5, with Rishabh Pant possibly replacing KL Rahul. While Rahul has played some crucial knocks, including 41 against Bangladesh and 23 against New Zealand, the team may look for a more aggressive option in Pant.
Given the conditions in Dubai, the Indian team may opt for four spinners in their bowling lineup. The expected bowling attack includes Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. Chakravarthy is expected to feature in India's playing XI for the semifinal against Australia, with his performance against New Zealand last night.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri has also advocated for his inclusion.
Mohammed Shami will spearhead the pace attack, while Hardik Pandya will play a dual role as a seam-bowling all-rounder. With Jadeja, Axar, and Pandya in the lineup, India’s batting depth will also be an advantage.
On the other hand, Australia had a more challenging route to the knockouts, finishing second in Group B with one win and two no-results. However, they displayed their mettle with a convincing five-wicket win against England.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis starred with an unbeaten 120, while Alex Carey (69) and Matthew Short (63) provided crucial contributions. The Australian bowling attack, led by Ben Dwarshuis (3 wickets), was also impressive.
In a late squad change, Australia has included spin-bowling allrounder Cooper Connolly in their Champions Trophy squad as a replacement for opener Short, who has been ruled out with a quad injury.
Connolly, 21, who made his ODI debut in England last year, was initially named a traveling reserve for the tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially approved Connolly's inclusion, with the Event Technical Committee confirming the replacement following Short’s injury. His addition provides Australia with an extra spin option, which could be crucial on the Dubai surface.
With both teams boasting a rich history in ICC tournaments, a fierce contest is expected. India, given its consistency and balanced squad, enters as slight favourites with a 52% winning probability compared to Australia's 48%.
The Dubai surface is known to be batting-friendly initially but tends to slow down as the match progresses, making spin a crucial factor. A score above 300 will be a challenging target. Weather forecasts suggest a possibility of rain, raising concerns about the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method coming into play.
Probable Playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
