Sunil Gavaskar Advocates India’s Preference for Australia in ICC…

Sunil Gavaskar suggests that India may prefer to play against Australia instead of South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals, citing Australia’s less experienced pace attack. India secured their place in the semi-finals after winning two matches, with their final opponent yet to be decided. Australia’s strong opener, Travis Head, presents a challenge for India should they meet in the knockout phase.

Sunil Gavaskar, the esteemed former Indian cricketer, expressed that India might prefer to face Australia rather than South Africa in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This preference stems from India’s recent performance, having won their initial two matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan, securing their place in the semi-finals. The final set of opponents will be determined following India’s last group match against New Zealand, which will clarify their standing in Group A.

Gavaskar noted that while both Australia and South Africa are formidable opponents, the less experienced Australian pace attack could be viewed as an advantage for India. He remarked on India’s familiarity with Australia, highlighting that they have faced them recently, unlike South Africa, whom India last encountered in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. According to Gavaskar, this familiarity might incline India to favor a match-up against Australia, particularly considering the absence of key Australian bowlers such as Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood.

Australia commenced their campaign robustly, notably chasing down a record 352 runs against England, bolstered by Jos Inglis’ stellar performance. Subsequent matches against South Africa and Afghanistan were affected by weather conditions, yet Australia still advanced to the semi-finals with four points. However, the form of Australian opener Travis Head raises concern for India, as he has recently excelled against them, scoring significant runs in crucial matches.

Thus, should India face Australia in the semi-finals, they will need to remain vigilant regarding Head’s potential impact, as he has consistently posed a challenge for them in recent encounters. Gavaskar’s insights provide essential context as India approaches the knockout stages of this prestigious tournament.

In conclusion, Sunil Gavaskar emphasized India’s potential preference for facing Australia in the semi-finals, largely due to the Australian team’s current composition and India’s previous experiences against them. As India prepares for the knockout stages, their recent form and the threat posed by Australian players, particularly Travis Head, will be critical factors in determining their path in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Original Source: www.indiatoday.in