Champions Trophy semi-final a replay of 2023 CWC final
Context:
The Champion’s Trophy is rapidly approaching its business end with semi-finals scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday before the final happens on Sunday. Sometimes tournaments like the this can produce surprise results, but it’s fair to say that the four best teams in the tournament have made it through to the knockouts as India tackle Australia and South Africa take on New Zealand.
The first semi-final is in Dubai between rivals India and Australia. The former come into the game in sensational form on the back of an eight-game winning streak. Australia however have just one win from their last five – and that win was over beleaguered England.
In terms of the team’s recent records against each other it is close. From the last five games where they have faced each other, India have won three and Australia two. Perhaps most importantly though one of Australia’s wins was in the final of the CWC where they ran our six wicket winners in Ahmedabad.
What’s important to note is that the current Baggy Green side looks vastly different to the one which won the World Cup less than two years ago – David Warner has retired while a further four members of the triumphant side are no injured – three of those key bowlers. Travis Head, who struck a match-winning 137 from 120 balls is there however, as is Marnus Labuschagne who made an undefeated 58.
India v Australia | Champions Trophy semi-final one | Tuesday 4 March 2025 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | 11:00am
Venue:
This is advantage India as the game is due to be played in Dubai, which has (and will), host all of India’s games in the tournament. It’s a big advantage as they know the conditions, there have been no issues with travel and security is a whole lot more relaxed than it is in Pakistan. The Dubai crowd will almost certainly be behind India as well.
Although it didn’t happen in the game between New Zealand and India on Sunday, there is notable advantage to batting second in Dubai. One of the ke factors here is the dew which makes the ball slippery at night. Of the 61 games played at the venue, 36 have been won by the side batting second.
Recent form (most recent game first):
India: W, W, W, W, W.
Australia: NR, A, W, L, L.
Key players:
India: Varun Chakravarthy
Having missed out on selection in the opening games of the tournament, Varun stepped up with a man-of-the-match performance against New Zealand, taking five for 42. Sunday was only his second ever ODI, so he is an absolute novice in the format, but with an average of 16 runs per wicket in ODI’s and 15 wickets in his last five white-ball outings he is a player to be feared. He has almost certainly played his way into contention for the semi-final, especially given how Australia struggled against spin in their warm-up series in Sri Lanka.
Australia: Travis Head
The wicket in Dubai will almost certainly favour the spinners once again and Travis Head is a man who is known for his skills against the slower bowlers. He has a great record against India in big games, and as he showed in the abandoned game against Afghanistan, he is coming into form at the right time. In that game he struck a brisk 59 from 40 balls. In all Head averages 44 in ODIs (43.12 against India) and is Australia’s highest ranked ODI batter. He is at 13th on the ICC list – such is India’s batting depth however that they have four batsmen ahead of Head.
Verdict: India
India is a very good team with depth and form on their side. More significantly though, Australia is far from their best with a host of seasoned stars unavailable for the competition. The Baggy Greens have done very well to make it to the semi-finals, and they are nothing if not feisty and determined, but India, even without Jasprit Bumrah, are an incredibly well-oiled machine – you don’t have to wonder where the runs will come from and there is no doubt about their ability to take wickets either. It would probably rank as the upset of the tournament if they lost to Australia.
