Dubai – In the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy India vs Australia, Australia won the toss against India and opted to bat first. However, they suffered an early setback as opener Cooper Connolly, playing his first match in the mega event, was dismissed for a duck off nine balls by Mohammed Shami.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Finals: All Four Teams Confirmed
Travis Head, who had scored a brilliant century against India in the World Cup, attempted to stabilize the Australian innings with an aggressive start. However, Shubman Gill soon caught him off Varun’s delivery. Later, Australian captain Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne built a solid partnership to steady the innings.
Before the match, Australian captain Steve Smith, while speaking after winning the toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, mentioned that the team had made two changes. He pointed out that the pitch was dry and expected to assist turn, which is why they preferred to set a target by batting first. He also noted that Dubai’s pitch was drier compared to Pakistan’s surfaces and aimed to put up a strong total to put pressure on the opposition.
On the other hand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma stated that they would have been comfortable with either batting or bowling first, as the Dubai pitch was quite different. He mentioned that if one is in doubt, losing the toss can sometimes be beneficial. He also confirmed that India made no changes to their squad for the semi-final and would go with four spinners and two fast bowlers.
India’s Playing XI:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
Australia’s Playing XI:
Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Steve Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha.
First Semi-Final: Indian Players Wear Black Armbands
Indian players took to the field wearing black armbands during the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Australia in Dubai. This was a tribute to India’s legendary left-arm spinner Padmakar Shivalkar, who passed away at the age of 84 in Mumbai on March 3, 2025.
India vs Australia: A Clash of Titans for a Spot in the Final
Before this semi-final clash, India and Australia had previously faced each other in the final of the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad. In that match, Australia defeated India on their home ground in a thrilling contest, clinching the ICC World Cup title, with Travis Head scoring a magnificent century.
Notably, both teams have remained unbeaten in the tournament so far. India reached the semi-finals by winning all three of their group matches, while Australia advanced after winning one match, with two of their group games being washed out due to rain.
The second semi-final of the Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place tomorrow in Lahore, where New Zealand will face South Africa.
