Credit: ICC
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has revealed why the Men in Blue will like to face Australia in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Following the last game of Group B in Karachi, South Africa concluded the pool stage at the top of the table with five points in three games. The Proteas bagged a seven-wicket win against England to qualify for the knockouts. Australia, whose last game against Afghanistan ended in no result, were the first team to qualify for the semi-finals from their group.
With that, all eyes are set on Group A’s final game between India and New Zealand in Dubai later today. If India tastes success against the Blacks Caps, they will face the Aussies at the Dubai International Stadium in the knockouts, while if the Men in Blue lose to the Kiwi side, they will be tasked to take on the Proteas at the same venue.
Recently, Sunil Gavaskar appeared on India Today and said that if given a choice, India would like to square off against the Aussies in the semis as the Men in Yellow have a frail bowling unit due to the absence of their fast-bowling trio that consists of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
"Both teams are formidable teams, make no mistake. There's no such team that India will say, because now they know, they've come to the knockout stages. Here it's now make or break, so I don't think they would prefer to have any team. Maybe Australia because they've played Australia, they know Australia a little bit better than South Africa, whom they last played in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. So maybe they might prefer Australia because they are without their main bowlers. There's no Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood so maybe they would want to play them," remarked Gavaskar.
Glenn Phillips denies claims of India getting home advantage in Dubai
New Zealand mainstay all-rounder Glenn Phillips has dismissed India enjoying home advantage in Dubai. He said the Kiwis are unfazed by the talk about the venues and ready to take on strong opponents with confidence. "For us there's no focus on anything like that. Obviously, the tournament draw is what it is. We have a no-excuse mindset to be able to come out to a tournament,” said Phillips.
India and New Zealand will face each other in the Champions Trophy after 25 years on Sunday, March 2. Back in 2000, the Black Caps handed the Sourav Ganguly-led India a four-wicket defeat in the final of the tournament’s second edition to register their maiden title win.
