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The first semi-final match of the Champions Trophy 2025 between India and Australia is set to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Cricket fans across the globe are eagerly awaiting this high-stakes encounter. Team India has been in exceptional form throughout the tournament, winning all three of their group-stage matches. As they enter the knockout stage, the team will aim to continue their winning streak. However, just before this crucial match, a significant update has emerged regarding the pitch conditions.
New Pitch Prepared for the Semi-Final
According to a Cricbuzz report, a new pitch has been prepared for the India vs Australia semi-final. This pitch is different from the ones India played on in the group-stage matches. Notably, India has played on different surfaces against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. The wicket for the match on March 4 has not been used before. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is in charge of preparing the Dubai Stadium pitch under the supervision of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The pitch curator for this venue is Matthew Sandry.
Spinners Have Dominated in Dubai
The Dubai pitch has provided considerable support to spinners in the tournament so far. Spinners have been particularly effective during the middle overs. In India's last group-stage match against New Zealand, spinners played a crucial role, taking a total of 9 wickets. Varun Chakraborty, India's mystery spinner, delivered an exceptional performance, securing 5 wickets. Given this trend, spinners could once again play a key role in the semi-final. However, since the semi-final will be played on a fresh wicket, it remains uncertain how the pitch will behave.
IND vs AUS: Squad Details
India Squad:
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Axar Patel
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Shami
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakraborty
- Rishabh Pant
- Washington Sundar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
Australia Squad:
- Steve Smith (Captain)
- Sean Abbott
- Alex Carey
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Nathan Ellis
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Aaron Hardie
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Spencer Johnson
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Glenn Maxwell
- Tanveer Sangha
- Cooper Connolly
- Adam Zampa
With both teams boasting strong squads and a fresh pitch adding an element of unpredictability, the India vs Australia semi-final promises to be a thrilling contest. Fans will be eager to see how the new wicket plays and which team adapts better to the conditions.
