NEW DELHI: India secured their place at the top of Group A with a commanding 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final group-stage fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With the tournament now heading to the semi-finals, India are set for a high-stakes clash against Australia on Tuesday, March 4, at 2:30 PM IST.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri weighed in on the team3s selection for the upcoming fixture, advocating for continuity within the playing XI due to the quick turnaround. "The square is a little tired at the moment, people have run on the pitch it is going to be used the day after, so the spinners will again come play," Shastri said, emphasizing the importance of India3s spin attack.
India fielded a four-pronged spin unit during their match against New Zealand, consisting of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and the relatively new Varun Chakravarthy, who led the charge by taking five wickets. The strategic choice to rest pacer Harshit Rana paid dividends as the spinners bowled 37.3 overs, accounting for nine of the ten New Zealand wickets with Chakravarthy starring with his stellar performance.
India successfully defended the target of 250 runs, restricting New Zealand3s batting lineup to just 205 runs on the sluggish Dubai surface. Given the conditions and their proven success, Shastri is confident this spin-heavy approach will work equally well against Australia. "So if you bat first, put anything over 240-250, it3s going to be very competitive in a big game like a semi-final," he said, underscoring the importance of a solid first innings total to sustain scoreboard pressure.
The semi-final will not only be significant owing to its knockout status but also due to the historical rivalry between the teams. Both sides stand among the most successful teams in the Champions Trophy history; Australia has clinched the title twice, winning it back-to-back in 2006 and 2009, whereas India won the tournament once, and were co-winners alongside Sri Lanka back in 2002.
Meanwhile, Australia, having finished as runners-up in Group B behind South Africa, had only played one match due to rain interruptions. They faced England, securing victory before their matches against South Africa and Afghanistan were washed out.
Head-to-head, India and Australia have met 151 times in ODI cricket, with Australia leading the tally with 84 wins to India3s 57, and ten matches ending with no result. Nevertheless, within the Champions Trophy's framework, India holds the edge with two wins compared to Australia3s one.
The build-up to this clash features notable performances. Varun Chakravarthy, who shone brightly against New Zealand with his five-wicket haul, expressed his initial nerves. "I did feel nervous in the initial stages. Not played much for India in ODIs, so was nervous. Virat, Rohit, Shreyas, Hardik everyone was talking to me and told me to calm down," he said. His performance is hoped to be pivotal against the formidable Australian side.
On the books, Rohit Sharma, Indian team captain, stressed the necessity of maintaining their winning momentum. "Very important for us to finish on a high. New Zealand is a good unit, playing well. Axar-Shreyas's partnership was key after we lost early wickets," he added.
Sharma is adamant about focusing solely on executing their game plan effectively and not getting distracted by Australia3s rich history. "We have to be focused on what we need to do on the day. We need to prepare accurately and make the right calls," he stated, projecting confidence and determination.
The semi-final match at Dubai promises to be thrilling, as fans eagerly await the encounter. The live telecast will be available on Star Sports Network, and streaming on JioHotstar, bringing the much-anticipated face-off directly to viewers across India.
With both teams vying for the ultimate victory, it will be interesting to see how their strategies play out on the field come Tuesday.