After defeating New Zealand by a commanding 44 runs in their most recent group stage match, India will play Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final. As the competition enters a pivotal stage, former India head coach Ravi Shastri offered his thoughts on the team’s strategy and outlook for the pivotal match.
Ravi Shastri thinks that India’s familiarity with the conditions in Dubai and their settledness will aid them, even though the semi-final has a short turnaround. Additionally, he believed the squad should stick with the same starting lineup for the semifinals.
People have been running on the pitch, which will be utilized again the next day, and the square is currently a little worn out.
In order to emphasize the necessity of standing by with a spin-heavy attack, Ravi Shastri told Star Sports, “spinners will come into play again.”
India won the match against New Zealand thanks to their decision to use four spinners: Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav. On the slow track in Dubai, the spin team dominated, taking nine of the ten wickets in 37.3 overs while fast bowler Harshit Rana was rested.
With an outstanding five-wicket haul in just his second ODI and his first-ever at an ICC competition, Chakaravarthy was the most impressive player. In the forthcoming semi-final match, Shastri said he was certain that India could portray their accomplishment.
“In a big game like a semi-final, it’s going to be very competitive if you bat first and put anything over 240-250,” Shastri said.
When they play Australia in the high-stakes semi-final on March 4 in Dubai, India will be hoping to continue their dominance because their spin group is playing at their best and the weather is still expected to be ideal for slow bowling.
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