ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025: India Will Prefer Dangerous Australia In Semi-Final: Sunil Gavaskar

Ray Sportz Web Desk: India will find out their Champions Trophy semi-final opponents after their final group match against New Zealand on Sunday. With the two teams already qualified, this match will determine which team finishes top and plays against Australia, and which team will face South Africa.

Sunil Gavaskar explained why India might be happier to face Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal than South Africa. If India beat the Kiwis, they will take on Australia in the first semi-final on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium. Otherwise, they will face the Proteas, what would be a repeat of last year’s T20 World Cup final.

Gavaskar explained “Both teams are formidable teams, make no mistake. There’s no such team that India will say, because now they know, they’ve come to the knockout stages. Here it’s now make or break, so I don’t think they would prefer to have any team.” Nevertheless, Gavaskar also explained that this Australian team is not the same as the one Rohit Sharma’s men had toured for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy recently, especially since their three-headed primary pace attack is missing out. “So maybe they might prefer Australia because Australia are without their main bowlers. There’s no Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood so maybe they would want to play them,” concluded Gavaskar regarding why Australia might be a preferred opponent.