IND vs AUS Semi-Final: Australia’s Bold Move – India-Origin Spinner Included in Playing XI, Spencer Johnson Replaced

In a surprising turn of events, Australia has made a high-risk selection decision for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final clash against India in Dubai. Skipper Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bat first, marking the 14th consecutive time India has lost the toss in ODI cricket.

While Australia’s squad already included a solid bowling attack, the biggest talking point was the inclusion of India-origin spinner Tanveer Sangha, who replaced pacer Spencer Johnson. The decision was made considering the dry nature of the Dubai pitch, which is expected to favor spinners. With Sangha joining the squad, Australia now has a double-spin attack alongside Adam Zampa.

Steve Smith’s Take on the Selection Call

Explaining the changes, Steve Smith said:

“We’ll have a bat. The surface looks quite dry, and we’d like to get some runs on the board. The guys have had good practice at the academy and are ready for this big contest. It should take more turn, and we know India is a strong side, but we are looking forward to the challenge. We’ve made two changes—Cooper Connolly comes in for Matt Short, and Tanveer Sangha replaces Spencer Johnson.”

India Stays Unchanged, Focuses on Bowling First

On the other hand, India decided to stick with their winning combination. Captain Rohit Sharma downplayed the toss factor, emphasizing the importance of playing good cricket in all conditions.

“I was prepared for both scenarios. The pitch keeps changing, so you have to be adaptable. We’ve played well in all three games so far, and we want to continue that momentum. Now that we are bowling first, our aim is to restrict them as much as possible.”

India’s Special Tribute

During the match, the Indian team sported black armbands in honor of legendary domestic cricketer Padmakar Shivalkar, who passed away on Monday. The left-arm spinner was a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket, widely respected for his dedication to the sport.

Playing XIs

India:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

Australia:
Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha

With a high-stakes encounter on the cards and Australia making a bold gamble with their playing XI, all eyes will be on how this decision plays out in the crucial semi-final clash.