Australia's explosive opener Travis Head has been India's achilles heel in the recent ICC tournaments. From World Test Championship 2023 final to ODI World Cup 2023 final to Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Head has decimated Indian bowlers. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, there is much pressure on Indian bowlers to dismiss him early in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged the same. Harbhajan wants India's in-form pacer Mohammed Shami to get rid of Head early in the knockout clash in Dubai on March 4.
"First thing is, get the fear of Travis Head out of your mind. Try and get Travis Head out. Shami saab, bahut ho gaya Travis Head ka kaam, now don't let him score runs," Harbhajan said on Star Sports' show.
Harbhajan had a couple of more advice for the Inidan team. He wants Indian bowlers to not let Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis off the hook. Inglis scored an unbeaten century in the record-breaking run chase against England whereas Maxwell has scored at a brisk rate in the slog overs.
"Second, they have hard-hitters like Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, they deal in sixes and fours. Don't let them score at a fast pace. Thirdly, it's a knockout game and you don't need to try too much, just play like the way you have played so far," said the 'Turbanator'.
Harbhajan also wanted Indian players to treat it just a normal match and not a knockout encounter because it ends up creating more pressure on them.
"The third one is simple — it’s a knockout match, and in a knockout match, one should not try too hard. You have to play in the same manner as you have been playing," he added.
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India have been unbeaten in the tournament so far registering three wins from their group stage matches. On the other hand, Australia won their opening encounter, the South Africa clash was abandoned without a ball being bowled whereas against Afghanistan, they were in good position in the run chase when rain played spoilsport.