ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Top matchups to watch out for in the India vs Australia semi-final. Rohit Sharma vs Spencer Johnson will be a battle to watch.
India and Australia will face off again in a knockout clash when the two teams meet in the first semi-final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at Dubai on Tuesday, March 4. India will eye revenge for the 2023 ODI World Cup final loss and look to knock Australia out of the tournament. Australia are without some of their first XI players, but they are known to raise their game in the knockout rounds. Hence, it makes for a thrilling contest between the two teams when they face off in the semis.
There are also few exciting match-ups to look forward to between players of both the teams. Here are a few match-ups that will be keenly followed:
Rohit Sharma vs Spencer Johnson
India’s captain Rohit Sharma has never played left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson in ODIs. In T20Is, Rohit has faced just 3 balls from Johnson, scoring 9 runs without being dismissed. Although this does not provide a great match-up, considering Rohit’s struggles against left-arm pacer, Australia skipper Steven Smith will ensure Johnson goes full throttle against the opener. Remember how Rohit played all over a yorker from his old nemesis Shaheen Shah Afridi, the left-arm pacer from Pakistan, earlier in the tournament. Hence, all eyes will be on Rohit whether he can combat his apparent weakness against an incoming delivery from left-arm pacer or, will it be Johnson who will get lucky?
Virat Kohli vs Adam Zampa
Opposition captain would have taken note of Virat Kohli’s recent struggles against leg-spinners in ODIs. Until Kohli struck his 51st ODI century against Pakistan, the star batter fell to leg-spinner three times out of three ODIs. Hence, trust Smith to hand the ball over to leg-spinner Adam Zampa as and when Kohli comes out to bat in the middle. Zampa, who has clever variations in his armoury, has the knack of rushing batters, and making them play false strokes. Kohli will have to play safe against spinners, and make maximum runs against pacers – just the way he played against Pakistan. In terms of match-ups, Kohli and Zampa have won battles against each other evenly in ODIs. Zampa has dismissed Kohli five times, while the batter averages 52.8 against the leg-spinner. Read More: CT 2025, IND vs NZ, Group A: Varun-led spin quartet bamboozles NZ; India to face Australia in SF
Here's how the two have fared against each other in ODIs
Runs | Balls | Outs | Strike Rate | Average |
264 | 245 | 5 | 107.8 | 52.8 |
Mohammed Shami vs Australia’s top-order
Shami has a great record in ICC tournaments, and he will look to go all guns blazing against Australia’s top-order. His job will be to dismiss Travis Head cheaply as Australia have been a thorn for India in knockouts in ICC tournaments. Not only Head, Shami would also have to rip open the heart of the Aussie batting line-up by targeting the wickets of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Can Shami produced the lethal spell to wreck Australia’s top-order the way he has done so many times in his international career. Aussie batters won’t be tied down facing Shami and would look to destroy India’s biggest pace threat on the day.
Here’s how Shami has performed against Australia’s three top batters
Batter | Runs | Balls | Outs | Strike Rate | Average |
Travis Head | 36 | 49 | 0 | 73.50 | - |
Steven Smith | 118 | 111 | 4 | 106.30 | 29.50 |
M Labuschagne | 30 | 42 | 0 | 71.40 | - |
India’s spinners against Aussie batters
India’s spinners have had a ball in the Champions Trophy, picking up 16 wickets in the three matches. The slow pitch at Dubai has helped Indian spinners to dictate terms to the opposition. They came to the party in the New Zealand clash where they took nine out of 10 wickets to fall to the bowlers. India’s spinners will be tasked once again to weave their web around the Aussie batters who are yet to play in Dubai. Aussie batters have experience to tackle the Indian spin threat, but can they do it on a big stage in semis? Will the likes of Head, Smith and Labuschagne bring their A game against India spinners? Or, will it be India’s spinners who will have the last laugh? Read More: Virat 'Chase-master' Kohli: Dissection of his match-winning knock against Pakistan
Hardik Pandya vs Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell is someone who can turn the game on its head from hopeless situations. Remember his double ton against Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup where he single-handedly led Australia to a memorable win when defeat loomed large. As spinners could be easy meat for Maxwell, India would employ their all-rounder Hardik Pandya against the Aussie batter. Pandya who has ability to mix it up with his pace, line and length could outthink and outsmart the Aussie all-rounder and help India destroy Australia’s last line of attack. They have not faced each other enough in ODIs, but their clash makes for an exciting match-up.
Here’s how Maxwell has fared against Pandya in ODIs
Runs | Balls | Outs | Strike Rate | Average |
13 | 13 | 0 | 100.00 | - |
Comments