IND vs AUS Playing 11 Prediction: The first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to take place today, March 4, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, will face Australia in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The match will begin at 2:30 PM IST. India has been in stellar form throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten so far.
India’s Dominance in the Tournament
Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the Indian team has been a force to reckon with. In their previous match, India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs, showcasing a brilliant performance. The highlight of the match was India’s decision to field four spinners, a strategy that paid off handsomely. Varun Chakravarthy took 5 wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav claimed 2. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel also contributed with a wicket each.
Rohit Sharma’s Big Statement Ahead of the Semi-Final
Ahead of the semi-final clash against Australia, Rohit Sharma addressed the media, dropping hints about India’s playing XI. When asked if India would continue with the four-spinner strategy, Rohit said, “We have to think about it. Even if we want to play four spinners, we need to see how we can fit them into the team. I’m saying this because we are well aware of the conditions here.”
He added, “We know what will work and what won’t. We will consider what the right combination should be, but it’s a tempting option. Harshit Rana has shown what he can do. Now, we need to think about the right combination. He played one match and performed exactly as we expected. He is different and, when in form, takes 5 wickets in a match. We have a good selection dilemma ahead of us. We will choose the bowling combination based on Australia’s batting lineup.”
Will India Stick with the Winning Combination?
Despite the temptation to experiment, it is unlikely that Rohit Sharma will tinker with the winning combination. India is expected to field four spinners once again in the semi-final, replicating the strategy that worked so well against New Zealand. This means Rohit might once again deploy his “spin web” to trap the Australian batsmen.
IND vs AUS Playing 11 Prediction
India’s Playing XI:
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
- Axar Patel
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Mohammed Shami
Australia’s Playing XI:
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis (Wicketkeeper)
- Steve Smith (Captain)
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Cooper Connolly
- Alex Carey
- Glenn Maxwell
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Nathan Ellis
- Spencer Johnson
- Adam Zampa
Key Players to Watch
Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain has been in sublime form and will be crucial at the top of the order.
Varun Chakravarthy: After his 5-wicket haul against New Zealand, all eyes will be on the mystery spinner.
Steve Smith: The Australian captain will be the backbone of his team’s batting lineup.
Adam Zampa: Australia’s lead spinner will look to exploit the turning Dubai pitch.
