March 3, 2025: Ahead of India’s highly anticipated semi-final clash against Australia in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Stadium, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed the team to stick with the same lineup that played in their last group-stage match against New Zealand.
India secured a dominant 44-run win over the Black Caps in their final group-stage fixture, and Shastri believes that, given the tight turnaround before the semi-final, the winning combination should remain unchanged.
"The square is a little tired at the moment; people have run on the pitch that is going to be used the day after, so the spinners will again come into play," Shastri said, adding that the conditions and the team's recent success with spin bowling suggest no need for changes.
In their game against New Zealand, India made a bold decision by playing four spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and new entrant Varun Chakravarthy. Harshit Rana was rested, and the spinners proved instrumental in India’s victory, bowling 37.3 overs and taking nine out of the ten wickets, with Chakravarthy leading the charge with a five-wicket haul.
Shastri believes India’s spin-heavy attack can prove just as effective in the semi-final, particularly if they manage to set a target of 240-250 runs. “If you bat first, put anything over 240-250, it's going to be very competitive in a big game like a semi-final,” he said.
With the match just around the corner on March 4, 2025, India will be hoping to replicate their strong performance and carry forward the momentum as they face Australia in the highly anticipated semi-final. Meanwhile, South Africa, the leaders of Group B, will be up against New Zealand in the other semi-final on March 5, 2025, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Last Updated on March 3, 2025 by Disha Rojhe
