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Cricketing legend believes that India might prefer to face Australia over South Africa for the semifinal clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Rohit Sharma-led side have already qualified for the semifinal after winning their first two group stage matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dubai.
Gavaskar explained that Team India have faced Australia and they know them a little bit better than South Africa and Australia are without their main bowlers. Notably, Australia star Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are not featuring in the showpiece event.
“Both teams are formidable teams, make no mistake. There’s no such team that India will say, because now they know, they’ve come to the knockout stages. Here it’s now make or break, so I don’t think they would prefer to have any team. Maybe Australia because they’ve played Australia, they know Australia little bit better than South Africa whom they last played in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. So maybe they might prefer Australia because Australia are without their main bowlers. There’s no Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood so maybe they would want to play them,” Gavaskar told India today.
Despite qualifying for the semis, India will face New Zealand for their third group stage match. Both India and New Zealand have already qualified for the semis. The upcoming clash between India and New Zealand will determine India’s position in the Group A table.
Australia are yet to lose a game in the Champions Trophy as they started their campaign with a dominating win against their Ashes rivals England. Their second and third clash against South Africa and Afghanistan ended without a result due to rain.
