India versus Pakistan could also be considered one of cricket’s best rivalries, made extra fierce by the political relationship between the 2 international locations, however India in opposition to Australia has been probably the most intriguing and hard-fought duels in modern-day cricket.
It has whetted the urge for food of followers like no different, producing titanic tussles between bat and ball, as seen most not too long ago within the five-Take a look at Border Gavaskar Trophy.
One other instalment of this high-voltage contest between the 2 cricketing heavyweights will likely be held on Tuesday on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium as they vie for a spot within the summit conflict of the Champions Trophy.
Proper from the build-up to the match, the 2 outfits have had contrasting paths to the last-four stage. The Males in Blue blanked England 3-0 at residence and have since prolonged their unbeaten run in ODIs to 6 video games, beating all three of its Group A opponents – Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand – convincingly.
Through the preliminary rounds, India additional burnished its credentials because the title favorite. Nearly each batter has scored worthwhile runs whereas the bowling unit – pacers and spinners alike – have contributed handsomely.
In distinction, the reigning ODI world champion has had an attention-grabbing run into the knockout phases. Steve Smith’s males have performed only one accomplished recreation the place they chased 352 in opposition to England to win by 5 wickets.
Inclement climate meant its different two video games had been both washed out (South Africa) or referred to as off halfway (Afghanistan) and the groups needed to share the spoils.
On paper, it is a depleted Australian aspect with out its first-choice tempo assault of normal skipper Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Forward of the semifinal, the staff additionally misplaced opener Matthew Brief, who might bowl helpful off-breaks. Southpaw Cooper Connolly has changed Brief.
By way of staff combos, Varun Chakaravarthy’s magical spell (5 for 42) in opposition to the Kiwis has given the Indian staff administration a cheerful headache. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the spinner is persevered with, even when it means having only one
frontline pacer in Mohammed Shami for Varun is an unknown commodity for many Aussie batters.
The large problem for Australia is the transition to the gradual floor right here in Dubai after taking part in on featherbed pitches in Pakistan. The batting line-up actually possesses the ammunition to cope with this, however the spin bowling division, with only one real spinner in Adam Zampa, might need to depend on part-timers Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head.
As Bangladesh and Pakistan came upon, the absence of a second spinner who might maintain the strain can show pricey in low-scoring encounters. To play fellow leggie Tanveer Sangha and push Josh Inglis to the opener’s slot is an choice.
Nonetheless, if there’s one maxim in cricket that has forex, it’s to by no means underestimate Australia in an enormous recreation of an ICC occasion. The recollections of November 19, 2023, the place Cummins & Co stopped the Indian juggernaut – which received all its World Cup matches until then – within the ultimate in Ahmedabad is evident proof of the Males in Yellow’s means to raise their recreation when it issues probably the most. Can Rohit Sharma and his males rise to the event?
The groups (from): India: Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Shubman Gill (Vice-Capt.), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Kl Ahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep YADAV, Kuldeep, Harshit Cann Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Australia: Steve Smith (Capt.), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa.
Match officers: On-field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney & Richard Illingworth; Third Umpire: Michael Gough; Fourth Umpire: Adrian
Holdstock; Match Referee: Andy Pycroft
Match begins at 2.30 p.m. IST.
Printed – March 03, 2025 07:30 pm is
