India vs Australia Semi-Final is the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place in Dubai on Tuesday. This exciting matchup comes after India’s commanding 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final group-stage encounter at the same venue on Sunday. Meanwhile, New Zealand will travel to Lahore to battle against South Africa in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
India Won’t Play in Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
A unique scheduling twist saw both Australia and South Africa already flown to Dubai ahead of their semi-final matchups. This decision was made to give the team playing in Dubai—Australia—ample time to prepare for the crucial contest. However, South Africa faces a tough situation as they must fly back to Pakistan shortly after arriving in Dubai, leading to an exhausting travel schedule.
The scheduling conflict stems from India’s refusal to play any matches in Pakistan for the tournament. Despite Pakistan being the official host, India’s matches were designated to be played in Dubai. The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) attempted to negotiate India’s visit, even suggesting Lahore as a neutral venue for all their games. However, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) cited the Indian government’s denial of permission for the team to travel to Pakistan.
As a result, New Zealand will take an early morning flight to Lahore on Monday, while South Africa will depart for Pakistan later that day after spending around 36 hours in Dubai.
India Riding High on Momentum as Rohit Sharma Eyes a Historic Win
Indian captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of momentum in such a short tournament. India remains the only unbeaten team in the tournament, winning all three of their group-stage matches.
“Momentum is crucial in a tournament like this. The goal is to win every game and keep improving. We have made mistakes, but what matters is that we rectify them quickly,” Rohit said after the win against New Zealand.
“The pitch is slightly worn out, and there’s been a lot of foot traffic on it. This means spinners will again have a big role to play,” added Ravi Shastri, backing India’s spin-friendly strategy.
Indian Spinners Dominate New Zealand; Set to Trouble Australia in Dubai
India’s spin attack featuring Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy dismantled the New Zealand batting lineup on a slow and turning track in Dubai. India opted for a four-spinner strategy, resting pacer Harshit Rana, which paid off exceptionally well.
Spinners bowled 37.3 overs in the match, claiming 9 out of 10 wickets, with Varun Chakravarthy leading the charge with a brilliant five-wicket haul.
Varun Chakravarthy: The Mystery Spinner Ready to Test Australia
Varun Chakravarthy remains tight-lipped about his bowling variations, maintaining an air of mystery.
“Sir, the ball goes inside, outside, or straight. That’s all you need to know,” Varun replied when asked about his variations.
His unpredictable deliveries will play a crucial role in troubling the Australian batting order, which has struggled against spin.
Can Australia Overcome the Spin Test?
The Dubai pitch for the semi-final will likely be the same surface used in India’s match against Pakistan, where spinners thrived. This poses a serious challenge for Australia, as only Steven Smith is considered a solid player of spin in their lineup.
Australia will also be at a disadvantage in terms of preparation since all their group-stage matches were played in Pakistan, meaning they must quickly adapt to Dubai’s spin-friendly conditions.
Another major setback for Australia is the absence of their pace trio, making their bowling attack appear inexperienced and vulnerable. While Adam Zampa is their only world-class spinner, he will have to carry the burden alone against India’s skilled spin players.
Squads for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final
India Squad:
🟢 Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
Australia Squad:
🟡 Jake Fraser-McGurk, Travis Head, Steven Smith (C), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (WK), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie, Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly
How to Watch India vs Australia Semi-Final Live Online?
Cricket fans can catch the live-action of India vs Australia ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final on:
📺 Jio & Hotstar (Now JioStar)
For those looking to watch the match online for free, check out guides on How to Watch Live Cricket Matches Outside India for Free
India Has the Edge, but Can Australia’s Fighting Spirit Prevail?
Australia has a rich history of excelling in ICC tournaments, and they are known for their resilience in knockout matches. However, this time around, India holds a clear advantage due to:
✅ Familiarity with Dubai’s conditions (having played all their matches there)
✅ Dominant spin attack capable of dismantling Australia’s batting lineup
✅ Australia missing their star pacers, leaving their bowling attack inexperienced
The stage is set for an electrifying semi-final showdown, with cricket fans worldwide eagerly anticipating whether Australia will continue their Knockout match winning streak or if India will continue their unbeaten streak.
