How can India get rid of Travis Head in Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final?

Ahead of the India vs Australia encounter in the semi-finals of Champions Trophy encounter, the focus is on one player. Travis Head is the biggest threat for Indian bowling ahead of the huge game in Dubai on Tuesday. Head scored a brilliant 137 in the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup to break a billion Indian hearts. 

In the last few years, Head has been a constant thorn in India’s flesh. The 31-year-old scored a match-winning ton in the 2023 World Test Championship Finals as well. In the recent Border Gavaskar Trophy, the Aussie batting star scored two crucial centuries to help his side win the trophy. 

So far, Head has played nine ODI matches against India and scored 345 runs with an average of 43. The left-handed batter has hit one century and one half-century versus the Men in Blue with a strike rate of 101. If India has to win the game and move into the finals, their biggest obstacle will be provided at the top of the order by Head. 

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025:IND vs AUS Head to Head in ODI 

Here is how Team India can get rid of Travis Head in the Champions Trophy semi-final:

3. Indian pacers cramping the batter for room 

One of the biggest problems for Travis Head early in his innings has been his tendency to be cramped for room. Mohammed Shami troubled the Aussie batter with the new ball early in the 2023 ODI World Cup finals. The 34-year-old could begin by bowling round the wicket and targeting the fourth and fifth stump lines. Head tends to push at the away-going deliveries at the start of the innings, and this could bring the wicketkeeper and slip cordon into play early. Interestingly, Hardik Pandya has dismissed Head twice in ODI cricket, and the Indian all-rounder could also be pivotal with the new-ball.  

2. Employing Varun Chakravarthy early 

If Team India does decide to go in with just a single pacer like they had against New Zealand, then Varun Chakravarthy will have a huge role to play. The 33-year-old has a record of bowling against left-handed batters and can beat them in the air. Travis Head tends to struggle against spin early in his innings. Rohit Sharma could employ a point and a deep point and keep the covers open. Varun Chakravarthy could then tempt the batter into playing a false shot and get his wicket. 

1- Possible inclusion of Arshdeep Singh 

Over the years, one of the biggest areas of concern for Travis Head has been his weakness against left-arm pacers. Arshdeep Singh bowled well against Head and got him out twice during the IPL 2024 season. The Australian batter tends to struggle against the incoming ball and has been dismissed bowled on many occasions. Rohit Sharma could take a punt and draft Arshdeep into the playing XI just to exploit this weakness that Travis Head possesses.