Champions Trophy 2025 IND vs AUS Semi-final: Team India is set to face Australia in the highly anticipated semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025. The match will take place at the Dubai International Stadium, where both teams will battle for a spot in the final. However, the biggest question ahead of the match is whether mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy will find a place in the playing XI.
Table of Contents
India’s Spin-Heavy Approach Against New Zealand
In their last match against New Zealand, the Indian team fielded four spinners—Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. This strategy paid off significantly as the spinners dominated the Kiwi batting lineup. Varun Chakravarthy, in particular, played a key role by picking up five crucial wickets, helping India register a comfortable victory.
Despite his brilliant performance, there remains uncertainty over his inclusion in the semi-final against Australia. Given the nature of the Dubai pitch and the opposition’s strengths, India’s team management might reconsider their combination.
What Did Captain Rohit Sharma Say?
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma addressed the selection dilemma in a press conference ahead of the semi-final. When asked about the team’s strategy and whether they would stick to four spinners, he stated:
“We need to carefully assess the conditions. Every game is different, and we will decide based on what suits us best. Varun Chakravarthy bowled exceptionally well against New Zealand, but Australia is a different challenge. We will take a final call after looking at the pitch on match day.”
This statement suggests that while Chakravarthy’s performance was impressive, his inclusion in the playing XI is not guaranteed.
Australia’s Strength Against Spin
One of the reasons for India’s possible rethink on their bowling combination is Australia’s ability to play spin well. The Australian batting lineup consists of several players who are comfortable against slow bowlers, including Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Glenn Maxwell. Their experience against spinners could prompt India to opt for an extra pacer instead of a fourth spinner.
Possible Playing XI for India
If India decides to go with three spinners instead of four, they may bring in an extra fast bowler to provide more variety in the attack. The possible playing XI for the semi-final could be:
| Position | Player Name |
|---|---|
| Captain & Opener | Rohit Sharma |
| Opener | Shubman Gill |
| No. 3 | Virat Kohli |
| No. 4 | KL Rahul |
| No. 5 | Suryakumar Yadav |
| All-rounder | Hardik Pandya |
| Spinner | Ravindra Jadeja |
| Spinner | Kuldeep Yadav |
| Spinner | Axar Patel / Varun Chakravarthy |
| Pacer | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Pacer | Mohammed Shami / Mohammed Siraj |
Final Thoughts
India’s selection for the semi-final will depend largely on the pitch conditions and Australia’s playing style. While Varun Chakravarthy was sensational in the last game, team management will have to decide whether the same strategy will work against Australia. With the high-stakes match just around the corner, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and the Indian team as they finalize their best combination to take on the Aussies.
