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With the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 reaching the penultimate stage, Rohit Sharma-led Team India will take on Australia in the first semi-final, scheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 4 at the DICS in Dubai. While the two teams are coming after contrasting results as India are unbeaten in the tournament, whereas the 2023 ODI World Cup winners have just won one match.
Ahead of the much-awaited clash, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar picked his favourite to win the battle. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar said that after India’s convincing 44-run win over New Zealand, the Men in Blue are favourites to enter the final. He also added that Australia does not have firepower in their spin attack and are also missing a few key players.
India should chase rather than having Australia chase: Sunil Gavaskar
Australia who are missing their pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, are likely to find it difficult to come out on top. The 75-year-old remarked, "On this surface, yes, because Australia don't seem to have the kind of spinning attack, apart from the fact that they are missing out on key players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Their batting is good. The batting is very aggressive. The ideal thing would be for India maybe to chase, rather than having Australia chase."
Looking back at India’s match against New Zealand, Gavaskar opined that the track which was given in Dubai, it didn’t look impossible. The cricket legend said that India's bowlers made it look impossible for New Zealand to chase down the target. "Not at all. Well, if you had a look at our spinners in the first few overs, they did not get much help. Later on, as the pitch got a little bit better after the rolling, after the dew had settled in, there was a little more grip for the spinners, but it wasn't an impossible pitch. There was a bit of turn. It's just that the bowlers did so well that it was impossible for New Zealanders," Gavaskar added.
The Men in Blue will look to get better of the ODI world champions as they take them on Tuesday in Dubai. On the other hand, the winner of India versus Australia will take on the winner of the second semi-final, which will be played between South Africa and New Zealand in the final on Sunday, March 9.
