Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has emphasized that dismissing Travis Head will be the pivotal moment of the Champions Trophy semifinal between India and England for him. Head, who recently scored an explosive half-century against Afghanistan, has proven to be a significant challenge for India, particularly in ICC tournaments. He notably scored a century in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which contributed to Australia's victory over India at the packed Narendra Modi Stadium. Additionally, he achieved a century in the World Test Championship final against India, further showcasing his dominance in recent encounters.

The Australian team will not be at full strength for the semifinal, as they will be without their leading pace bowlers—Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Furthermore, the recent injury to opener Matt Short has compounded their challenges.

Nevertheless, India remains cautious of Head's impressive record against them, and Manjrekar urges the bowlers to find a way to dismiss him early in the innings.

"Someone needs to get Travis Head out, whoever that may be. He is the one player that India will want back in the dressing room as soon as possible. That will be the defining moment for me. Travis Head," Manjrekar stated to ESPNCricinfo.

As the highly anticipated semifinal approaches, Australian captain Steve Smith also reflected on Travis Head's performance in the ODI World Cup final.

"There is pressure every time you participate in a significant match," Smith remarked to reporters. 

"However, as we know, Travis has consistently risen to the occasion in such situations. He appeared to be in excellent form the other night against Afghanistan. I am confident he will aim to replicate his aggressive and intent-driven style of play," he added.

‘I think with Maxwell and Kuldeep Yadav…’: Sanjay Manjrekar

India secured their third consecutive victory in Group A by defeating New Zealand on Sunday, thanks to the performance of their four spinners on a challenging pitch. It is anticipated that India may opt to include both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in their lineup once again.

Manjrekar expressed concern regarding the middle phase of the game, particularly highlighting the matchup between Glenn Maxwell and the Indian spinners on the difficult surface.

"I believe the critical moment will be the middle phase. The interaction between Maxwell and either Kuldeep Yadav or a spinner like Varun Chakravarthy will be crucial," Manjrekar stated.

Read Also: Smith Urged to Go All Out as Ponting Aligns with Hussain

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