It has been some time since India managed to outsmart Australia in the knockout rounds of a 50-over ICC tournament. To find such an occurrence, one must revisit the 2011 quarterfinal of the World Cup held in Ahmedabad. In the intervening years, particularly during World Cups, Australia has dominated the encounters—most notably in the 2003 final in Johannesburg, the 2015 semifinal in Sydney, and, most painfully, the 2023 championship match in Ahmedabad.

In contrast, India has a more favorable record against Australia in the Champions Trophy knockout stages, boasting two victories without a loss. However, these triumphs were achieved in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the 1998 and 2000 editions of the ICC KnockOut Trophy, the predecessor of the current tournament. As both teams prepare for the semifinal of this year's Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday, it is pertinent to consider the strategies India might employ to avenge their previous defeats against Steve Smith's squad.

WIN THE TOSS

India has not won the toss in 13 One-Day Internationals, with their last victory occurring during the 2023 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. Since that match, both Rohit Sharma, who has participated in 10 games, and KL Rahul have experienced a series of unfavorable outcomes in the toss. Should Rohit manage to end this streak, he will have the opportunity to make a strategic decision. India has successfully chased down targets on two occasions and defended a score at this venue. However, considering the condition of the unused pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, accumulating runs may prove advantageous. Notably, despite the string of toss losses, India has maintained a commendable win-loss record of 8-4 (including one tie) over the past 14 and a half months.

CUT OFF THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE

Travis Head has been a thorn in India’s side for a long time now. The aggressive left-hander took the 2023 World Test Championship final away from Rohit’s men with a blazing 163 and reprised those heroics in the World Cup final five months later with a decisive 137. Even in Gros Islet in the T20 World Cup last June when India came through by 24 runs, Head led a stunning onslaught on India’s 205 with a 43-ball 76. In December, he smashed big hundreds in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide and the next game in Brisbane, both at a frenetic pace. Without Jasprit Bumrah, India will have their task cut out. Head relishes room outside the off-stump. If India can cramp him up and keep him quiet, a get-out-of-jail shot won’t be too far away.

KEEP ATTACKING WITH SPIN

Against New Zealand, India played four specialist spinners for the first time in their ODI history because the conditions dictated so. Another dry surface is on the cards but even if India swap one spinner for Harshit Rana, they are well stocked to test Australia’s middle order, in which Josh Inglis and the maverick, Glenn Maxwell, loom as dangerous ball-strikers. The middle overs of an ODI are often where games are won and lost. India will have at least one, potentially two wrist-spinners in Varun Chakravarthy, whom Australia haven’t faced previously, and Kuldeep Yadav. It is imperative that they look for wickets instead of keeping things tight.

PULL UP THEIR SOCKS IN THE FIELD

India have dropped at least six catches in their first three games, including Kane Williamson twice on Sunday. They have been fortunate that they haven’t been punished for their profligacy but there is no point pushing their luck. India pride themselves on being a terrific catching unit, which they invariably are. The fielding medal was a big hit in the 50-over World Cup and while that exercise is still on, it isn’t as visible on social media and elsewhere as previously. Maybe it’s time to ramp up that endeavour but what is non-negotiable is greater intensity in the field and avoidable misfields.

IMPOSE THEMSELVES QUICKLY WITH THE BAT

Australia's bowling lineup is significantly weakened due to the absence of their three primary fast bowlers for various reasons. Captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are in the process of recovering from injuries, while Mitchell Starc withdrew at the last moment citing personal matters. Additionally, Mitchell Marsh is unavailable due to injury, and Marcus Stoinis has recently retired from One Day Internationals. India should focus on exploiting the inexperience of the Australian bowlers, but they must remain cautious not to underestimate them. Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis, and Nathan Ellis may not be widely recognized, yet they possess considerable skill and extensive experience in domestic cricket. Rohit Sharma will likely aim to capitalize on these bowlers, but he must also consider the sluggish nature of the pitch, which previously led to his dismissal when attempting a pull shot against Kyle Jamieson on Sunday.

BOSS THE MIDDLE OVERS

Leggie Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell serve as the primary spinners for Australia; however, the team may consider including another leg-spinner, Tanveer Sangha. India's middle order has gained valuable experience facing spinners such as Rishad Hossain from Bangladesh, Abrar Ahmed from Pakistan, and the New Zealand trio of Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Rachin Ravindra. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel are capable of capitalizing on spin bowling, but it is essential for either Shubman Gill or Virat Kohli to play a substantial innings, providing the other batsman with the confidence to play freely. India must be cautious to reduce the number of dot balls—64 in the first 15 overs against New Zealand—since on a turning pitch, it is crucial to seize every scoring opportunity.

Read Also: Varun Chakravarthy Keeps Position, Arshdeep Singh Excluded: India's Probable XI Against Australia in Champions Trophy 2025

"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"