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Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes that India may prefer facing Australia over South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final due to the Aussies’ inexperienced bowling attack.
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India’s Road to the Semi-Final
After securing dominant wins against Bangladesh and Pakistan, Rohit Sharma’s India has already booked their spot in the semi-finals. Their final Group A clash against New Zealand is set for March 2 in Dubai, but their semi-final qualification is guaranteed.
Regardless of the final group standings, India will play the first semi-final on March 4 in Dubai, while New Zealand will play their semi-final on March 5 in Lahore.
Gavaskar’s Take: Why Australia Over South Africa?
Sharing his thoughts on India’s preferred opponent, Gavaskar pointed out that Australia’s missing key bowlers could make them a more favorable opponent compared to South Africa.
“Both teams are formidable, make no mistake. There’s no such team that India will say they prefer, but maybe Australia because they’ve played them more recently,” Gavaskar said on India Today.
“Australia are without their main bowlers—there’s no Starc, Cummins, or Hazlewood. So maybe India would want to play them rather than South Africa, whom they last faced in the T20 World Cup 2024 final.”
Australia’s Champions Trophy Campaign So Far
Despite missing key pacers, Australia has looked dangerous in the Champions Trophy:
- They chased down 352 against England in a high-scoring thriller.
- Their matches against South Africa and Afghanistan were washed out, helping them qualify for the semis with four points.
Travis Head: The Biggest Threat for India?
While Australia’s bowling may be weaker on paper, their batting remains explosive, and Travis Head is once again proving to be India’s biggest threat.
The southpaw, who played match-winning knocks in the 2023 ODI World Cup final and the WTC final, was in brilliant touch against Afghanistan, smashing 59 off 40 balls.
Given his recent dominance against India, Rohit Sharma and Co. would need a solid strategy to contain him if they face Australia in the semi-final.
Conclusion
While Australia’s weakened bowling attack makes them a favorable opponent, their batting firepower—led by Travis Head—remains a significant challenge. Regardless of whom India faces, the semi-final clash on March 4 promises to be a high-stakes thriller.
