The India cricket team will have the opportunity to decide who they face in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy. The group stage of the tournament will end together with the India vs. New Zealand in Dubai. Although all four semifinalists are confirmed, the opponents for the two knockout clashes aren’t. How India […]
The India cricket team will have the opportunity to decide who they face in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy. The group stage of the tournament will end together with the India vs. New Zealand in Dubai. Although all four semifinalists are confirmed, the opponents for the two knockout clashes aren’t.
How India can decide their semifinal opponent
As per the ICC Champions Trophy format, the table topper from Group A will face the second team that qualified from Group B and vice versa, i.e., A1 will play B2, and B1 will play A2. Since Team India will only play in Dubai, we also know they will be the ones to play in the first semifinal on March 4.
This means that the India vs. New Zealand won’t be a dead rubber. Because depending on victory or defeat, Rohit Sharma and co. will either face South Africa or Australia in the semifinal, the two teams that have made it from Group B of the ICC Champions Trophy. If Team India beats New Zealand in the last group stage fixture, they’ll finish as table topper (A1) and face Australia (B2). and if they lose, they’ll finish second (A2) and face South Africa (3).
Australia or South Africa—Which side is easier to beat for India?
This information could force Men in Blue’s hand. At this point, everyone knows the kind of trouble Team India has faced when going against Australia. One can’t forget how the Aussies battered the favourites in the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship Finals in 2023.
Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir might look to experiment a lot more, and if they lose to New Zealand, they won’t face Australia. The other side would be winning and facing Australia. But going against South Africa won’t be easy either. They are a better side than Australia. Their results show that.
Given the current performance and strengths, Australia would be an easier opponent. The question is, would India feel they have a better chance of beating South Africa, who they defeated to end their ICC trophy drought last year in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final, or go against their nemesis, Australia?
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