Sunil Gavaskar indicated that India might prefer Australia over South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final. India has qualified for the semi-finals, winning two matches. Gavaskar highlighted Australia’s weaker pace attack due to missing key bowlers. Australia’s strong performance and the threat posed by Travis Head could pose challenges for India in this critical matchup.
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar recently suggested that India may prefer to face Australia rather than South Africa in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This opinion comes as India has already secured a place in the semi-finals with victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan, and will finalize its opponent after the upcoming match against New Zealand.
Gavaskar noted the significance of the semi-final stage, indicating that any team India faces will be formidable. He mentioned that India has more familiarity with Australia, having played them recently, which could give them an edge. Furthermore, he pointed out that Australia is missing key bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood, making them a less daunting opponent.
In their tournament journey, Australia started strong by chasing down a record score of 352 against England, thanks to a remarkable performance by Jos Inglis, who scored 120 runs from 86 balls. Despite weather-related interruptions in their subsequent matches, Australia’s qualification for the semi-finals was confirmed with four points.
However, a potential concern for India is Australian opener Travis Head, who showcased impressive form by scoring 59 runs off 40 balls against Afghanistan. Head has been a problematic player for India, having previously scored vital runs in both the World Cup final and the World Test Championship final. India will need to strategize carefully if they encounter Australia in the knockout stage.
In summary, Sunil Gavaskar’s remarks suggest that India could favor facing Australia over South Africa in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With both teams carrying strengths, India’s familiarity with Australia and their current injury concerns may influence this preference. Nonetheless, players like Travis Head present a significant threat that India must consider seriously.
Original Source: www.indiatoday.in
