Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik believes that the first semifinal of the 2025 Champions Trophy will feature India facing Travis Head, rather than Australia, echoing a previous statement made by Ravi Shastri. The two most successful teams in the history of the Champions Trophy will compete on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium for a chance to advance to the final.

Travis Head has consistently posed a challenge for India across all formats. In 2023, he thwarted India's aspirations in the World Test Championship final. Later that year, a stunning century in Ahmedabad resulted in a painful defeat for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, contributing to India's series loss.

During a discussion on the Sky Sports Podcast with esteemed former England players Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton, Karthik emphasized the significance of dismissing Head in the semifinal.

"It used to be New Zealand for a while. In these knockout matches, they often had the upper hand over India, but currently, it is Australia that poses the greatest challenge. If there is a team that India perceives as a consistent threat, it is undoubtedly Australia. As Ravi Shastri mentioned, the mental hurdle at this moment is more about one player than the entire Australian team, and that player is Travis Head," Karthik stated.

With Head expected to open for Australia, Karthik noted that his early dismissal would provide considerable relief for the Indian side.

"He has been a formidable opponent in every format. India will be keen to secure that wicket early, as it would significantly ease their pressure for the remainder of the match. In crucial games such as the World Test Championship Final, the recent series against Australia, and the World Cup Final, he has consistently made impactful contributions. He has often been the decisive factor between victory and defeat," Karthik remarked.

Atherton interrupts Steve Smith

In the course of the podcast, the former England captain highlighted that Smith had stepped onto the field to examine the pitch in Dubai. While Nasser humorously urged Atherton to change the subject, Atherton, attempting to interject with the Australia captain, remarked, "I can assure you, it will be unfavourable and will turn."

As the camera shifted to Smith, both Nasser and Karthik erupted in laughter.

It was previously announced that India and Australia would be provided with a new pitch in Dubai for the semifinal match, one that has not been utilized in any of India's group-stage games.

Read Also: India vs Australia Champions Trophy 2025: Semi-Final 1 Live Streaming Details

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