The two titans last met in an ODI game back in 2023, when Australia bested India at home to clinch the Men’s Cricket World Cup.
India have made a solid start to their run-chase in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia.
They are chasing 265 after bowling Australia out, but know that Australia’s total of 264 is the highest total scored by any team in Dubai thus far this tournament.
Shubman Gill was the first to fall, bowled by Ben Dwarhuis, then Rohit Sharma, lbw bowled by Cooper Connolly, leaving India on 43/2 after eight overs.
Australia take two crucial wickets | IND v AUS | Champions Trophy 2025
But Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer have come together to form a partnership, with the score currently 103/2 after 20 overs.
India seized the momentum towards the end of the Australia innings. After removing captain Steve Smith for 73, bowled by Mohammed Shami, the dangerous Glenn Maxwell went soon after for just seven, bowled by Axar Patel.
Shami leads India’s charge but Australia post fighting total | Innings Highlights | Champions Trophy 2025
And Australia lost their final four wickets in the last five overs, picking up 29 runs in the process.
Earlier, Travis Head had come out firing, making 39 off 33 balls before being caught by Shubman Gill off Varun Chakravarthy.
Travis Head takes off in Dubai | IND v AUS | SF 1 | Champions Trophy 2025
It followed a tentative start from fellow opener Cooper Connolly, given the nod in place of Matt Short, and who failed to trouble the scorers in his nine balls – removed in the third over, caught by KL Rahul off Mohammed Shami.
Marnus Labuschagne was next to depart, putting in a useful 29 off 36 balls, followed by Josh Inglis for 11.
Alex Carey’s arrival at the crease heralded the start of a valuable 50 partnership with Smith.
And after Smith and Maxwell were dismissed, Carey looked to push the run-rate on, eventually run out for 61 in the 48th over, and Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis both fell in the last two overs as Australia were bowled out with three balls remaining.
Two quick wickets give India momentum | AUS v IND | Champions Trophy 2025
Australia captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first in Dubai.
While India finished atop Group A, winning all three of their fixtures against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand, Australia were the second-ranked side in Group B – only behind South Africa.
All On The Line Preview | IND v AUS | Champions Trophy 2025
The two teams are playing each other for the first time in a 50-overs contest since the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup Final.
While Rohit Sharma and co were the finished second-best in Ahmedabad that night, in their last meeting against Australia at an ICC tournament, India edged out the Aussies on their way to the Men’s T20 World Cup title.
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Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly, Adam Zampa.
