Taming the Aussie Beast: India's Strategy for the 2025 Champions Trophy Semi Final

India has struggled to outsmart Australia in the knockout stages of 50-over ICC tournaments in recent years. The last time they were able to do so was in 2011 during the quarterfinal of the World Cup in Ahmedabad. Since then, Australia has dominated every encounter, particularly in World Cups. This includes their victory in the 2003 final in Johannesburg, the 2015 semifinal in Sydney, and the heartbreaking loss in the 2023 title clash in Ahmedabad. India will need to step up their game if they hope to overcome their fierce rivals in future tournaments.

In the Champions Trophy, India have a better knockout record against their bugbears – a perfect two and nought, though those two victories came in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively of the 1998 and 2000 editions of the ICC KnockOut Trophy, the original avatar of this tournament. As the teams brace for the semifinal of this edition of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday, here’s a look at what India can do to get their own back against Steve Smith’s men.

WIN THE TOSS

It’s been 13 One-Day Internationals since India last won the toss, in the 2023 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. Since then, Rohit Sharma (10 games) and KL Rahul have both been on the wrong side of the spin of the coin. If Rohit can break that sequence, it will give him the chance to decide what to do. India have won chasing (twice) and defending a target here, but if the unused track at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is anything to go by, runs on the board could be the way to go. Of course, the loss of all those tosses hasn’t prevented India from stacking up an 8-4 win-loss record (one tie) in the last 14 and a half months.

CUT OFF THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE

Travis Head has been a thorn in India’s side for a long time now. The aggressive left-hander took the 2023 World Test Championship final away from Rohit’s men with a blazing 163 and reprised those heroics in the World Cup final five months later with a decisive 137. Even in Gros Islet in the T20 World Cup last June when India came through by 24 runs, Head led a stunning onslaught on India’s 205 with a 43-ball 76. In December, he smashed big hundreds in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide and the next game in Brisbane, both at a frenetic pace. Without Jasprit Bumrah, India will have their task cut out. Head relishes room outside the off-stump. If India can cramp him up and keep him quiet, a get-out-of-jail shot won’t be too far away.

KEEP ATTACKING WITH SPIN

Against New Zealand, India played four specialist spinners for the first time in their ODI history because the conditions dictated so. Another dry surface is on the cards but even if India swap one spinner for Harshit Rana, they are well stocked to test Australia’s middle order, in which Josh Inglis and the maverick, Glenn Maxwell, loom as dangerous ball-strikers. The middle overs of an ODI are often where games are won and lost. India will have at least one, potentially two wrist-spinners in Varun Chakravarthy, whom Australia haven’t faced previously, and Kuldeep Yadav. It is imperative that they look for wickets instead of keeping things tight.

PULL UP THEIR SOCKS IN THE FIELD

India have dropped at least six catches in their first three games, including Kane Williamson twice on Sunday. They have been fortunate that they haven’t been punished for their profligacy but there is no point pushing their luck. India pride themselves on being a terrific catching unit, which they invariably are. The fielding medal was a big hit in the 50-over World Cup and while that exercise is still on, it isn’t as visible on social media and elsewhere as previously. Maybe it’s time to ramp up that endeavour but what is non-negotiable is greater intensity in the field and avoidable misfields.

IMPOSE THEMSELVES QUICKLY WITH THE BAT

Australia’s bowling attack is seriously undercooked with their three frontline quicks missing for various reasons. Skipper Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are recovering from injuries while Mitchell Starc pulled out at the last minute due to ‘personal reasons’. There is no Mitchell Marsh (also injured) or Marcus Stoinis (recently retired from ODIs). India must target the less experienced Australian bowlers but must guard against taking them lightly. Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis may not be household names but they are very skilled and have loads of domestic games under their belt. Rohit will fancy taking these bowlers down though he must also allow for the slowness of the track, which proved his undoing when he went for the pull against Kyle Jamieson on Sunday.

BOSS THE MIDDLE OVERS

Leggie Adam Zampa and Maxwell are the principal spinners but Australia might contemplate playing another leggie in Tanveer Sangha. India’s middle order had reasonable game-time against Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh), Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan) and the New Zealand trio of Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel can lay into the spinners, but one of Shubman Gill or Virat Kohli must bat deep to give the batter at the other end the security to play with freedom. India must ensure they don’t play as many dot balls – 64 in the first 15 overs alone – as they did against New Zealand because especially on a turner, every scoring opportunity must be gleefully accepted.

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