The last time India and Australia played an ODI, it was the 2023 World Cup final, a painful defeat for Indian fans. Australia came into that game with the clear aims of winning the trophy and quieting the massive home crowd in Ahmedabad. Now, in another crucial ICC match, India, led by Rohit Sharma, might be looking for revenge.
However, the Australian team in 2025 is not the same as in 2023. Notably, a key figure from their previous victory, known for enjoying silencing the crowd, is no longer in the squad. The absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, a formidable new-ball bowling pair, significantly weakens Australia’s attack.
India also misses Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling power, but the team under Rohit Sharma seems to have become even stronger since their last encounter in Ahmedabad. With more match-winning players and the unique talent of Varun Chakaravarthy, who excels alongside quality spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, India’s bowling is very deep. Given that the Dubai pitch is expected to favor spin, this match is in India’s favor.
Rohit Sharma mentioned that they view Australia as a strong opponent. Their strategy is to continue focusing on their own game plan, similar to their approach in the previous successful matches. While understanding the opposition is important, focusing on their own strengths as a team, batting and bowling units is crucial.
Regarding the bowling lineup, team management needs to decide whether to include an extra spinner or pacer. The decision is particularly focused on Varun Chakaravarthy, especially after his strong performance against New Zealand. Despite limited ODI experience, he is a game-changing player. This presents a positive selection dilemma for the captain.
A key strength for India going into this match is the form of their batsmen. Even without top contributions from the usual top order, India still managed to score a winning total against New Zealand. The good form of Shreyas Iyer, combined with the composed batting of Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya, significantly boosts India’s chances in this knockout game.
However, there are some concerns. One notable challenge is the matchup between Virat Kohli and Adam Zampa. Kohli has often struggled against Zampa, who has dismissed him five times, more than any other Indian batsman.
Additionally, Rohit Sharma has recently faced difficulties against left-arm fast bowlers, and Australia has two in their squad – Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis. There’s also a tendency for Rohit to play with a T20 approach, even in ODIs where there is more time to build an innings.
For India, another potential threat is Travis Head. He has a strong record against India and was instrumental in Australia’s victory in Ahmedabad with a dominant century. On the other hand, Australia might miss having an extra spinner, relying mainly on Adam Zampa, similar to how they will miss their pace duo of Cummins and Starc.
As Rohit Sharma acknowledged, Australia is a strong team, and India anticipates a tough fight and moments of pressure during the match.
Probable India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy
Probable Australia XI: Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
