IND vs AUS Semi Final 2025 | Champions Trophy 2025 India vs Australia Preview, Playing XI, Weather, Pitch & Winning Predictions

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final: India vs Australia - A Rivalry Renewed

A Battle for Redemption

India and Australia meet once again in an ICC knockout fixture, this time in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. For Indian fans, this is more than just a semi-final; it is an opportunity for redemption after the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup final. The ghosts of Ahmedabad still linger, but this Indian squad, led by Rohit Sharma, has evolved and strengthened since that fateful night.

On the other hand, Australia arrives in this semi-final without key pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, leaving their attack significantly depleted. Yet, the Aussies have always been a team that thrives under pressure, and under Steven Smith's leadership, they will be determined to maintain their dominance in ICC events.

Pitch and Weather Conditions

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to favor spin, with the dry surface assisting slow bowlers as the match progresses. The conditions will be hot and humid, testing the endurance of both teams. Dew could play a role in the second innings, making the toss crucial. India has struggled with tosses, losing 13 in a row, but they have shown the ability to win regardless of batting first or chasing.

Team News and Predicted Playing XI

India

India is unlikely to make changes to their XI. The major question revolves around whether Varun Chakaravarthy will retain his place as the fourth spinner. Given Dubai’s spin-friendly conditions, the team management may opt to keep him. There is an outside chance of Arshdeep Singh replacing Mohammed Shami, who has struggled for form in the tournament.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Australia

Australia’s playing XI faces a few question marks. With Matthew Short ruled out, they could bring in Jake Fraser-McGurk at the top, but they will miss Short’s off-spin. If the conditions favor spin heavily, Tanveer Sangha could come in for a pacer.

Predicted XI: Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.

Key Battles and X-Factors

• Virat Kohli vs Adam Zampa: Kohli has struggled against Zampa, who has dismissed him five times in ODIs. India’s batting talisman will need to overcome this challenge to ensure stability in the middle order.

• Rohit Sharma vs Left-arm Pacers: Rohit has shown vulnerability against left-arm seamers, and with Australia fielding Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis, this could be a key factor early in the innings.

• India’s Spin Quartet: The combination of Jadeja, Axar, Kuldeep, and Chakaravarthy could be game-changing, especially if the pitch plays as expected.

• Travis Head Factor: Head was India’s nemesis in the 2023 World Cup final, and his aggressive batting style makes him Australia’s most dangerous player.

Dream 11 Fantasy Picks & Score Prediction

Fantasy Cricket Tips

• Batting Picks: Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Travis Head

• All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Glenn Maxwell

• Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

• Captain Choice: Rohit Sharma (if chasing) / Ravindra Jadeja (if bowling first)

• Vice-Captain Choice: Travis Head / Shreyas Iyer

Predicted Score

• If India bat first: 290-310

• If Australia bat first: 270-290

Winning Prediction

India enters as the favorites due to their depth in spin and stronger batting lineup. If they execute their plans effectively, they have a higher chance of winning. However, Australia’s ability to rise in big games means they cannot be counted out.

Prediction: India to win by 30-50 runs or 5 wickets.

Interesting Facts

• Head-to-Head: Australia leads the ODI record 84-57 and in ICC tournaments 10-7. However, since 2020, the rivalry has been evenly matched at 7-7.

• Spin Factor: India’s only loss in the 2023 World Cup came in the final, where their spinners failed to take a single wicket (Kuldeep and Jadeja returned 0/99 in 20 overs).

• Rohit’s Powerplay Dominance: Since 2023, Rohit Sharma has scored over 1000 runs in the first 10 overs of ODIs, the most by any player in that period.

As the two cricketing giants prepare for battle, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will India settle the score, or will Australia extend their dominance in ICC tournaments? The answer awaits in Dubai.