Indian cricket fans eagerly anticipate clashes between India and Australia, rivaling even India-Pakistan matches. The upcoming semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 promises high stakes, with the winner advancing closer to the title. Harbhajan Singh offers crucial advice for India: focus on dismissing Travis Head, prevent hard-hitters Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis from scoring quickly, and maintain their current form. Head has a strong record against Indian bowlers, notably scoring 137 in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Sourav Ganguly praised Mohammed Shami’s return and emphasized India’s strength in white-ball cricket, highlighting their capability to defeat any opponent.
Among the clashes that Indian cricket fans eagerly anticipate, aside from the matches against Pakistan, the showdown with Australia stands out. Both India and Australia have proven themselves to be two of the most formidable teams in recent years. The Border Gavaskar Trophy attracts viewership that rivals even the most significant sporting events, and the excitement whenever these teams meet in the shorter formats is nothing short of extraordinary. The time has come once more for an epic India vs Australia encounter, this time during the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025.
The stakes are incredibly high, as the winner will move one step closer to claiming the Champions Trophy 2025 title. Ahead of the match, legendary Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has shared three crucial strategies for India to overcome Australia in the semi-finals.
“The first thing to do is to remove the fear of Travis Head from your minds. Target Travis Head and do not let him score runs. Shami saab, bahut ho gaya Travis Head ka kaam, now it’s time to keep him quiet. Secondly, players like Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis are capable of hitting hard, so make sure they don’t score at a rapid pace. Lastly, remember that this is a knockout game; don’t overthink it—just play as you have been playing,” Harbhajan Singh remarked on Star Sports.
Head has an impressive record against Indian bowlers, particularly against the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. In the 2023 ODI World Cup final against India, he scored 137 off 120 balls, turning the tide against Rohit Sharma and his team.
Additionally, commenting on Mohammed Shami’s performance in the tournament—including a standout five-wicket haul against Pakistan in the CT 2025 opener—former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly noted, “Injuries can happen to anyone; it’s part of a fast bowler’s journey. He has been pivotal in winning many matches for India alongside (Jasprit) Bumrah. He is an exceptional bowler.”
In an interview with ANI, Ganguly added, “India clinched the last T20 World Cup (in 2024) and reached the final (of the 50-over format in 2023). This is a robust team in white-ball cricket, capable of outplaying anyone, regardless of the opposition.”
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