IND vs AUS SF-1: As India and Australia gear up for a crucial match in the Champions Trophy 2025, let’s take a look at the key players from Australia and their potential impact on today’s game.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith is one of Australia’s most dependable batsmen, especially in high-pressure matches. He has a stellar record against India, scoring 2,014 runs at an average of 53.00. His ability to handle spin makes him a strong contender to play a match-winning innings.
Although he managed only 20-30 runs against England in the previous game, Smith’s experience in knockout games is invaluable. He has an 88% control rate against spin, which helps him dominate in the middle overs. However, India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, could be a challenge for him since Smith has never faced him in an international game before.
Expected Impact Today
Smith is likely to play an anchor role, providing stability in Australia’s batting order. If he settles in, he can score 50-70 runs and guide Australia toward a strong total.
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Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa has been Australia’s go-to spinner in recent years and has proven his effectiveness against India. With 24 wickets against them at an average of 27.00, he knows how to trouble their batters. His biggest strength is his deceptive googly, which has previously dismissed Virat Kohli and could be a key weapon once again.
Zampa maintained a solid economy rate of around 4.5 runs per over against England, showcasing his ability to control the game in the middle overs. However, India’s batsmen are skilled at playing leg-spin, with a 73.4% success rate against such bowlers. His effectiveness will depend on how well he can deceive the batters with his variations.
Expected Impact Today
Zampa will likely take 1-2 crucial wickets, especially against India’s middle order. If he can break partnerships, he will be a game-changer for Australia.
Nathan Ellis
Nathan Ellis has stepped in as a replacement for Australia’s injured pacers, making this a big opportunity for him to prove his worth. He has very little experience against India, which could work both for and against him—India’s top-order might struggle against an unfamiliar bowler, but Ellis also lacks experience at this level.
Known for his skiddy pace and ability to bowl effective death overs, Ellis can be a threat if he gets his lengths right. However, his inexperience against India’s world-class batting lineup could be a disadvantage. If he misses his mark, players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could take him apart.
Expected Impact Today
Ellis might pick up early wickets, but there’s also a risk of him being expensive. A likely performance could be 2/50, depending on how well he adjusts to the conditions.
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