India vs Australia 1st Semi-Final Preview & Prediction ICC 2025

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has reached its crucial knockout stage, with India and Australia set to face off in the first semi-final at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. India has been in dominant form, winning all three of their group-stage matches, while Australia has had a mixed campaign, securing just one win and relying on points from abandoned matches to qualify. With both teams boasting rich histories in ICC tournaments, this encounter promises to be a thrilling battle.

India vs Australia Match Info

• Match: IND vs AUS, 1st Semi-Final (A1 v B2), ICC Champions Trophy, 2025
• Date: Tuesday, March 04, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Venue:BCA Stadium, Vadodara

Recent Performance

India:W W W W W

• March 02, 2025, 12th Match, Group A, India vs New Zealand
  India won by 44 runs
• February 23, 2025, 5th Match, Group A, India vs Pakistan
  India won by 6 wickets (with 45 balls remaining)
• February 20, 2025, 2nd Match, Group A, India vs Bangladesh
  India won by 6 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)
• February 12, 2025, 3rd ODI, India vs England
  India won by 142 runs
• February 09, 2025, 2nd ODI, India vs England
  India won by 4 wickets (with 33 balls remaining)

India has been the standout team in the tournament so far, maintaining an unbeaten streak. They defeated New Zealand by 44 runs in their last group-stage match, showcasing their batting depth and bowling prowess. Earlier, they convincingly defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh, proving their dominance in Group A. Key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Shami have been in excellent form, making them strong contenders for a place in the final.

Australia: L L W A NR

• February 28, 2025, 10th Match, Group B, Australia vs Afghanistan
• February 25, 2025, 7th Match, Group B, Australia vs South Africa
  Match abandoned without a ball bowled
• February 22, 2025, 4th Match, Group B, Australia vs England
  Australia won by 5 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
• February 14, 2025, 2nd ODI, Australia vs Sri Lanka
  Sri Lanka won by 174 runs
• February 12, 2025, 1st ODI, Australia vs Sri Lanka
  Sri Lanka won by 49 runs

Australia has had a turbulent tournament, with their group-stage performances being far from convincing. They won only one match, against England, and suffered defeats to Sri Lanka before the ICC Champions Trophy began. The match against South Africa was abandoned, and they suffered a crucial loss to Afghanistan. With inconsistency in both batting and bowling, they will need a strong performance to challenge the in-form Indian side.

Head to head Last 5 Matches

• Australia won by 6 wickets (with 42 balls remaining)
• India won by 6 wickets (with 52 balls remaining)
• Australia won by 66 runs
• India won by 99 runs (DLS method)
• India won by 5 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)

India Squad Playing:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy

Australia Squad Playing:

Steven 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, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

Key Players to Watch

India:

• Rohit Sharma (Captain): The experienced opener will be crucial in providing a solid start against Australia’s pace attack.
• Virat Kohli: A big-match player who thrives in high-pressure situations, Kohli’s consistency will be key in this semi-final.
• Mohammed Shami: Leading India’s pace attack, Shami’s ability to take early wickets can trouble Australia’s top order.
• Kuldeep Yadav: With Australia’s struggles against spin, Kuldeep could play a crucial role in breaking partnerships.

Australia:

• Steven Smith (Captain): As the leader, Smith needs to anchor the innings and guide Australia’s fragile batting lineup.
• Travis Head: His aggressive batting at the top could set the tone for Australia’s innings.
• Glenn Maxwell: A game-changer with both bat and ball, Maxwell’s all-round abilities will be critical for Australia’s chances.
• Adam Zampa: The leg-spinner can exploit India’s middle order if he finds rhythm early on.

Pitch & Conditions

The BCA Stadium in Vadodara is known for offering assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. The pitch generally starts slow but gets better for batting as the game progresses. Spinners will likely play a key role, especially in the middle overs. Dew could be a factor in the evening, making chasing an advantageous option.

Pitch Type: Balanced wicket

• Weather: Clear skies, with temperatures around 28°C
• Toss Prediction: The team winning the toss may opt to bowl first to take advantage of dew in the second innings.

Match Prediction

India enters this match as the firm favorite, given their unbeaten run and superior squad depth. Australia, on the other hand, has struggled with consistency and will need a remarkable performance to challenge India.

Predicted Outcome: India to win by a comfortable margin. Their strong batting lineup, disciplined bowling attack, and recent form make them the likely winners in this semi-final clash.

Possible Betting Tips:

• Top India Batsman: Virat Kohli
• Top Australia Batsman: Travis Head
• Top India Bowler: Mohammed Shami
• Top Australia Bowler: Adam Zampa
• Winner Prediction: India
• Total Runs Prediction: 280+ in first innings

India vs Australia encounters are always high-intensity matches, and with a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy final at stake, expect nothing less than a thrilling battle in Vadodara!