Pat Cummins and his dream of silencing a huge crowd stayed long and hard in the minds of both the Indian Cricketers and Indian Fans. He is not here for this tournament but Steve Smith will be looking to do the same. After 2011, India and Australia faced off four times in ODI Tournaments with India winning two games. The Two they lost though were the Semi-Finals in 2015 and the Finals in 2023. An Year and a half from November 19th 2023, Australia stand in the way of India again. They are a new look side though with their pace trio missing. The gap between the two sides is evident but it was in 2023 as well until Australia's recent golden generation pushed through with their fielding, choked India's batters and then leaving Travis Head to do a lot of carnage.

India will be watchful again. They know what Australia can do. They recently lost the Border Gavaskar trophy which saw their tormenters Steve Smith and Travis Head go really well and both are in contention again. Adam Zampa is a danger on turning tracks too while Glenn Maxwell is another threat. Adding to that, the youngsters in Australia are pretty lively which will leave India with plenty to watch. Their own line-up has some happy headaches. With Dubai spinning India now have to pick between three spinners or four. Varun Chakravarthy came in really well against New Zealand but if he is to play who sits out? Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja provide batting depth while Kuldeep Yadav is a key wicket-taker in the middle-overs.

IND vs AUS Match Details

Date: March 4th, 2025

Time:  2:30 PM IST

Venue: Dubai International Stadium

IND vs AUS Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice evening is expected for the game.

See Also: Yograj Singh backs Rohit Sharma

India vs Australia Pitch Report

Average Score Batting First in the last three games: 239

Average Score Batting Second in the last three games: 226

Wins Batting First in the last three games: 1

Wins Batting Second in the last three games: 2

Batting second has a huge advantage at Dubai with teams averaging higher in the second innings.

See Also: Wasim Akram comes down hard on Pakistan

New Zealand vs India Head to Head

IND vs AUS Predicted Playing XI

AUS Playing XI

Jake Fraser Mcgurk, Travis Head, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Jos Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

IND Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy

India vs Australia Key Players

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has tweaked his technique a touch and is looking a lot  better against short balls. He was really good against spin too moving really well and could be handy in the middle overs.

Steve Smith

India will be watchful of Travis Head but a player who has been an even bigger thorn for them is Steve Smith. He has scored heaps of runs in the BGT from 2014, halted India's progress with a century in the World Cup Semi-Final in 2015, and is a huge pain in the back for the Indian Team. He is yet to get going this tournament though with games washed out. 

IND vs AUS Match Tips

India do look favorites but Australia in knockout territory are a different beast.

Match Prediction: Australia Will Win the Match

Australia has been dealt a big blow before their Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against India, with opener Matthew Short being ruled out because of a left quadriceps injury. Cricket Australia has confirmed that 21-year-old all-rounder Cooper Connolly will be replacing him in the team.

This last-minute revision occurs just prior to Australia's high-stakes match against India in Dubai on March 4, 2025. In the absence of Matthew Short who is injured, the team now has to rewrite their game plan for the make-or-break knockout game.

Matthew Short's Injury: A Major Setback for Australia

Matthew Short injured his left quadriceps in Australia's last group-stage game against Afghanistan. Although it is not sure how severe, the medical staff declared him out of the semi-final, leading to an urgent squad replacement by Australia.

Why is This a Big Loss for Australia?

• Steady Top-Order Man – Short has been consistent at the top order.
• Destructive Opener – His forceful batting aided Australia in securing early starts.
• Team Disruption – His absence necessitates a change in the batting order.

With Short being out of the semi-final, Australia now has to look for a new opening partner for David Warner and make changes to their batting lineup accordingly.

Also See: ICC Champions Trophy: History, Winners & Memorable Moments

Who is Cooper Connolly? Australia's Surprise Replacement

With Matthew Short being out of the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, Cooper Connolly has been brought in as a replacement.

Cooper Connolly's Career Highlights:

• Captain of Australia's U-19 World Cup-winning side in 2022.
• Aggressive left-handed batsman, renowned for his aggressive attitude.
• Left-arm bowler, offering an additional bowling option.
• International Experience – Played three ODIs for Australia.
• Breakout Star in BBL 2023 – Scored a match-winning innings for Perth Scorchers in the BBL Final, demonstrating his capability in high-pressure games.

What Connolly Brings to the Table:

• Aggressive Batting: His willingness to attack can give Australia some much-needed acceleration during the middle overs of the innings.
• Bowling Utility: He can come in handy with his left arm spin in the spin supportive surfaces of Dubai.
• Big Match Experience: He has played at even the biggest stages, such as the BBL Final or U-19 World Cup. Because of that he knows how to stay calm under pressure.

Will Cooper Connolly Play Against India?

Though Connolly has been included in the team, he is yet to be confirmed in the playing XI. Australia could:

• Utilize him as a middle-order batsman if they require additional firepower.
• Play him as a left-arm spinning option if the pitch suited spinners.
• Have him as an insurance against additional injuries.

India vs Australia: Preview of the Semi-Finals

India's Strengths:

• Solid Batting – Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill are on song.
• Spin-Friendly Pitch – Jadeja and Yadav can prove to be nasty.
• Momentum – India were at the top of their group and are eager for revenge over their 2023 World Cup final defeat.

Australia's Challenge:

• Replacment of Short successfully in the batting order.
• Disrupting India's top order prematurely.
• Dealing with spin on a challenging Dubai pitch.

Clash against India will not be easy for Australia after the loss of Matthew Short, but the addition of Connolly gives the side a fresh boost. The semi-final promises to be a contest of not only skill but also adaptability and the ability to cope with stress will determine the winner.

Also See: ICC Champions Trophy: History, Winners & Memorable Moments

Varun Chakravarthy recent spell against New Zealand on going Champions Trophy is been the talk of the town. Reason behind this is India didn't imported any challenging total scored only 249 runs. India batting had a surrel collapse at the start of the innings where they lost their Captain Rohit Sharma and Vice Captain Subhman Gill at early. They were 30/3 at the end of eight over. 

It was Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel who revived the innings which looked completely lost at the beginning, they constructed the innings and laid a good foundation shreyas scored 79 and Axar Patel scored a well made 44 runs. 

Read More : Kolkata Announces Their Captain And Vice Captain Ahead Of IPL2025

Varun Chakravarthy To Take Care Of The Rest

After the departure of these two batsman, Hardik Pandya took care of the innings where he scored a well made 45 from 45 balls. After that rest of the batsman couldn't able to capatilize the momentum and felled like a bunch of cards. Only able to score 249 runs which was not that easy to defend in this modern cricket era. Where 300 plus target are not even safe. Now it was upto the bowlers to defend the given target which was quite hard. 

But these types of matches only decides the true character of the team. Indian bowlers responded quickly and the score which looked cracky was handled by Indian bowlers who bowled out the black caps in 205 runs and topped the chart. It was mainly happened due to Varun Chakravarthy fifer who was quite difficult to read out. His co partner Axar Patel to hailed the performance of Varun describing he is very hard to predict. If you miss those definitely you are packed up. 

Axar On Varun Chakravarthy Brilliance

When asked about Varun Chakravarthy important spell he said it was indeed some special spell. Chakravarthy in his spell claimed the wickets of opener Will Young,Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry completing his fifer conceeding 42 runs only. Varun Chakravarthy doesn't played for India much it was his second ODI match before debuting against England. He has played only 5 T20s claiming 14 wickets. 

Read More : India Remains Unbeaten In Champions Trophy Faces Australia In Semi Finals

Axar goes on saying that T20 world cup 2021 was a turning point in his career which depicted his lowest performance , but after that the comeback he has done is truly remarkable, he has worked on his game and mental strength which is seen on his performance today, he was unreadable he is fast through in his hands if you won't pick him early it means you have been deemed into a spin web. Axar too restrained about his performance saying he is always happy to contribute for team's well being. 

Pakistan is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but the country is facing massive criticism for poor preparation, which hasn't built any better or good image for the cricket-loving country. One of the poor scenes is recently going viral on the social media accounts, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been criticised massively.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is the most important tournament for Pakistan

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is the first ICC tournament in Pakistan after the 1996 Cricket World Cup. For many years, the country couldn't bring the top international cricket tournaments, mainly due to security reasons. Although the PCB and the Pakistan government have tried to show their best practices to host the ICC tournament, the results aren't similar anyway.

Including the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, eight teams have participated in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, India, the only team of the eight participating teams, refused to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns, and ultimately, their matches have been shifted to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. 

Even during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, many incidents raised massive security concerns in the country, including some news of terrorist attacks in the country and a threat for kidnapping of the foreigners who came to experience the ICC tournament. The PCB has also failed to impress with their hosting preparation. 

See Also: PCB Announces Full Ticket Refund for Abandoned Rawalpindi Matches

Roof leaking in Gaddafi Stadium

The PCB renovated all the stadiums in Pakistan, which are hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. These stadiums are National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. While there were major concerns of renovation completion before the tournament, the PCB was always stubborn to stun the cricket world with their on-time finishes. However, the real pictures are really disappointing.

Recently, a social media video showed a major flaw inside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. While the PCB reportedly used 1800 crore to renovate all the stadiums and tried to produce some of the best cricket stadiums, Gaddafi Stadium has experienced a massive leaking roof in light rain during the Australia vs Afghanistan match. That Group B match was stopped in the early evening due to rain. It ended with a no result as the match wasn't possible to restart, and the chasing team Australia played 12.5 overs.

1280 Crore Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan.
Ye stadium ke baare me Pakistani bol rahe the ki record 4 mahine me Asia ka best stadium bana diya.#ChmapionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/0Re2B2A03j

— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) March 2, 2025

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is one of the most important venues of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It will host the second Semi-final and can also host the Final only if India fail to advance to the Final. But the most important venue for Pakistan is going through a bad experience, and it is surely not good news for Pakistan cricket. Also, not to forget that the PCB's method to handle rain on the ground has completely unimpressed the cricket world, including showing a poor drainage system.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that Varun Chakravarthy’s fantastic performance against New Zealand has made the idea of using four spinners in the Semi-finals. However, he didn’t say for sure if India would follow this plan in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia. India’s spinners Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel played a key role, taking nine wickets together to beat the Newzland.

"We have to really think about how we can fit four spinners into the team if we decide to go with that plan," ."We know the conditions well and understand what works and what doesn’t."Rohit Sharma said in his pre-match press conference after winning with Newzland.

ALSO READ: Congress leader slammed for calling Rohit Sharma "fat"; BCCI secretary reacts

"So, we’ll take our time to figure out the right combination, but it’s tempting to take 4 spinners." Varun Chakravarthy, who came in for the rested Harshit Rana against Newzland, was brilliant, picking up 5/42. Rohit said that the Varun is definitely on the team’s mind. "He showed what he can do, and now it’s up to us to see how we can balance the team. He got his chance and made the most of it," Rohit said. 

"He has a unique style, and when he gets it right, he can destroy batting lineups and take five-wicket hauls. So, it’s a great option to consider, even though it’s a tough decision. We’ll also look at Australia’s batting and decide what kind of bowling attack will work best against them," he added.

"We told him right from the start of the ODI series against England that he would bat at No. 5 no matter what. The way he has improved with the bat over the past year has been fantastic, and that’s why we felt he could be a key player in the middle order," Rohit said. He loves to take on the bowlers and play attacking shots in any situation. Sometimes, when the team is in trouble, taking a positive approach is the best way to come back to the game.

The ICC Champions Trophy is cricket's most elite tournament. Popularly referred to as the "Mini World Cup," it sees the best ODI teams in a limited and intense format.

This tournament, over the years, has seen legendary performances, legendary rivalries, and match-winning moments. As Champions Trophy 2025 draws near, let's take a look at its past, champions, and what awaits us in the next edition.

History of the ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC ChampionsTrophy was initially launched in 1998 as the ICC KnockOut Tournament. It was conceptualized as a shorter version of the World Cup, with just the top teams.

The competition was rechristened the Champions Trophy in 2002 and has since continued to be one of the most thrilling tournaments of ODI cricket.

In contrast to the World Cup, which features several teams and a lengthy format, the Champions Trophy is an elite tournament. Only the best-ranked teams make it in, so each game is high-pressure.

Some of the most successful teams in ICC Champions Trophy history are:

• Australia – Two-time champions (2006, 2009)
• India – Two-time champions (2002*, 2013)
• Pakistan – 2017 champions
• South Africa – First-ever champions in 1998

The tournament has seen some of the most exciting matches and finest individual performances in the history of cricket.

Also see : Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Events

List of ICC Champions Trophy Winners

Following is a complete list of Champions Trophy winners and runners-up:

Top 5 Memorable Moments

1. 2002 Final – Joint Winners

The 2002 final between Sri Lanka and India was rain-affected to a great extent. Despite a reserve day, the match could not be finished.

For the first time in the history of ICC, India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners. This is a one-time occurrence in cricket.

2. West Indies' Revival of 2004

West Indies played England in the 2004 final and were in trouble at 147/8, in pursuit of 218.

An incredible partnership between Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw took them to victory. This is one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Champions Trophy.

3. Australia's Back-to-Back Titles (2006 & 2009)

Australia became the first team to win back-to-back Champions Trophy titles.

• In 2006, they thrashed West Indies.
• In 2009, they beat New Zealand comprehensively.

Key players such as Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, and Brett Lee were instrumental in Australia's success.

4. India's Thrilling Victory in 2013

India played England in a rain-hit 2013 final. The match was cut short to 20 overs a side.

India defended a low total of 129 runs on the back of excellent bowling by Ravindra Jadeja. They won by 5 runs, and MS Dhoni became the first captain to win all three ICC titles.

5. Pakistan's Historic Victory in 2017

Pakistan stunned the world with an incredible win against India in the 2017 final.

• Fakhar Zaman played a marvelous 114 runs.
• Mohammad Amir's killer spell got India's top order batsmen out early.

Pakistan won by 180 runs, winning their first-ever ICC Champions Trophy title.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Teams & Expectations

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be organized by Pakistan and the UAE.

Semifinalists:

• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Africa

The ICC Champions Trophy has given cricket fans legendary matches, unforgettable moments, and intense rivalries.

Also see :Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Events

Playing in ICC tournaments is a real test of the mettle of a cricketer under pressure. Two contemporary stars, India's Shreyas Iyer and Pakistan's Babar Azam, have proved their worth on the international stage.

Whereas Babar is famous for his consistency and captaincy, Iyer has impressed with his big-match performances.

Shreyas Iyer in ICC Events

Shreyas Iyer first appeared in the ICC tournament in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Although he wasn't experienced enough, he was a vital player in India's run.

Shreyas Iyer's ICC Tournament Stats (2023 ODI World Cup):

• Matches Played: 11
• Total Runs: 530
• Batting Average: 66.25
• Strike Rate: 97.27
• Centuries/Fifties: 2/3
• Best Score: 128*

Key Performances:

• 128 vs Netherlands:* A stupendous knock during the group stage.
• 105 vs New Zealand (Semi-Final): A match-winning century in a tight knockout encounter.
•  82 vs Sri Lanka: A thrilling innings that enabled India to register a huge score.

Iyer's capability to push the innings and deliver under pressure makes him an asset middle-order batsman.

Also See : Karun Nair's Ranji Trophy Heroics: 86 & 135 – A Strong Case for India Test Recall!

Babar Azam in ICC Events

Babar Azam has been the mainstay of Pakistan's batting unit in ICC events, playing in the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy since 2017.

Babar Azam's ICC Tournament Stats (ODI & T20 World Cups):

• Matches Played: 43
• Total Runs: 1,604
• Batting Average: 42.2
• Strike Rate: 81.13 (ODIs), 112.15 (T20s)
• Centuries/Fifties: 1/15
• Best Score: 101*

Key Performances:

• Scored a spectacular 101 against New Zealand during the 2019 ODI World Cup*.
• Led Pakistan to the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 as captain.

Has faced criticism for a poor strike rate in pressure situations.

Despite his consistent run-scoring, Babar has been criticized for being conservative in do-or-die matches, especially in ICC knockout matches.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Competitions

Performance Analysis:

• Iyer is superior on average and strike rate even though he has played fewer games.
• Babar has more runs and experience, but his performance in knockout matches is inferior.
• Iyer has played high-pressure games, while Babar has played well but not that aggressively in crucial moments.

If we consider total experience and total runs, then the advantage lies with Babar Azam

If we compare strike rate, match-winning potential, and pressure match performances, then Shreyas Iyer has been superior.

Also See : Karun Nair's Ranji Trophy Heroics: 86 & 135 – A Strong Case for India Test Recall!

India has overcomed New Zealand by 44 runs which was the finest match of group B. Both the team had few changes in their team where New Zealand added Kane Williamson and India added Varun Chakravarthy. New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first, India had a shaky start losing Rohit and Subhman Gill earlier. Even the King couldn't hold his innings more and caught out early which dismayed India into serious trouble. Early wicket gainers had huge advantage for New Zealand. 

 New Zealand displayed why they are most successful team in this Trophy even they had slight change in the team. They were pro active in the field, but Shreyas Iyer had different plans. 

Iyer Stables The Innings

Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel started the re building phase though being an aggressive batter he didn't let the approach down. Even Axar too gave the needy support to the innings. Once they crossed the tuff phases they showed their class. Shreyas reached his well made 50. But Axar was removed on this process and Rahul backed the innings with Iyer. When everything seemed going well Iyer lose his wicket making well made 79 runs. 

Read More : Ms Dhoni Marks His Last Dance In IPL

 Though India were quite lacking the par score and in quick session they lost Rahul too. It was Hardik Pandya who rescued India from difficult phase scoring 45 runs of 45 balls rest others gave there sub contribution. Though India couldn't able to score 250 runs, they were a run short of that. 

Read More : Jos Butler Pens Down From England Captaincy

New Zealand Fall And Australia On Cards

It looked an easy chase for New Zealand team having depth in batting. But when the chase started it was totally vice versa for New Zealand where they lost Rachin Ravindra early. It was a huge plus for India. From there India got a slight gateway entering into the match. Soon Will Young departed giving a surprise to the New Zealand dugout.

It was Kane Williamson who anchored the innings but at the other he didn't get enough support. At the other end wickets were failing at regular intervals. Once a innings begun to built it was dismantled early, but Williamson was holding one end fighting like a lone warrior. He made well made 50 but couldn't finish the job for his team. He got stumped by Kl Rahul and after his departure it was pile of cards and India won the match by 44 runs, thanks to Varun Chakravarthy who got well made fifer in his Champions Trophy debut. 

 India is having a biggest hurdle on their semi final chart that is Australia who have given really a tuff time to them. Who would have forget Travis Head knock in World Cup final 2023. Will the trend continues it will be seen in mere time. 

Rohit Sharma is a fantastic captain for Team India, guiding team and he has an incredible 88.29% win rate in ICC ODI tournaments. Under his captaincy, India won 25 out of 28 matches, making them one of the best teams in world cricket.

Rohit Sharma's captaincy has led India to an unstoppable winning streak in ICC tournaments.

Rohit’s calm and smart Captaincy is a big reason for India’s success in ICC tournaments. He knows how to handle pressure in tough situations, makes the right decisions, and brings the best out of his players in Difficult situations. When making tough Decisions like right field or making bold Decisions during the game, he has led from the front with confidence and Experience.

Rohit Sharma commands an incredible 88.29% win rate in ICC white-ball events, leading India to 25 victories in 28 matches🤯#RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/rEcPfEdhpT

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 2, 2025

Rohit and India play fearless and consistent cricket in every tournament. The team has adapted well to different situations, showing great fighting spirit in difficult situations. With just one loss in their last 22 ICC tournament matches, India’s winning streak shows Rohit's experience and skills in Captaincy.

Sheer dominance from skipper Rohit Sharma! 🇮🇳🔥

Under his captaincy, Team India has lost just one game in the last 22 ICC matches! 🏆👏#RohitSharma #ODIs #T20Is #India #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/oZGEn9IL3g

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 2, 2025

In ICC tournaments, Rohit Sharma’s experience and captaincy will be key for India to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. His sharp thinking and ability to stay cool under pressure help India one step ahead against any team, and fans are excited to see him lead India to even more victories in future ICC tournaments. Under Rohit Sharma, India is not just winning games they are showing how India is dominating the world Cricket

Varun Chakravarthy and India crooned a redemption song on Sunday in Dubai, driving out the specters of the T20 World Cup 2021 by employing spin to tear New Zealand apart in their Group A encounter of the Champions Trophy 2025.

It was a battle between different styles, but India's four-spinner battalion overpowered New Zealand's pace-dominated style on a slow-wicket strip at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

India scored 249 runs in total, of which 124 came against New Zealand's spinners during 25 overs for losing only two wickets. They then defended the par score, courtesy of an awe-inspiring vice-like grip by their spinners. Prompted into the Champions Trophy team at the eleventh hour and given a spot in the XI for India's third Group A match, Varun Chakravarthy played a masterclass of spin bowling. The BlackCaps had no response to his magic, as he grabbed his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals, rising to the occasion for India at the right time.

TAKE A BOW, VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY. 🙇

He's playing first Match in this Champions Trophy and he picked 5 wicket haul, his bowling figure (42/5) against New Zealand - What a Bowler. pic.twitter.com/eTK02eL5yk

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 2, 2025

ALSO SEE: Kane Williamson sets new ODI record for New Zealand against India

Varun Chakravarthy, who was an architect by profession before venturing into the cricketing arena, was wicketless in three matches played during the 2021 T20 World Cup, after which he was inactive for three years. But ever since he joined the senior national team in 2024, there has been no looking back for him.

Having picked up 31 wickets in 12 games in his second phase of T20I cricket, starting in 2024, Varun was added to India's Champions Trophy team. His head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had seen him perform firsthand at Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, was instrumental in his surprise call-up for the big tournament -- one that was a masterstroke on the grand stage.

Varun was given his ODI debut in a series against England in February but sat on the bench for India's Group A encounters against Bangladesh and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.