‘Need to be scared and wary of them’ – Former India batter warns Men in Blue ahead of CT 2025 Semi-finals

In less than 24 hours, the Champions Trophy 2025 will see the biggest game of the tournament. India and Australia will face each other in the first semi-final game on Tuesday. Former India batter Aakash Chopra has urged the Men in Blue to be wary of the Aussies ahead of the massive game. 

Australia finished second in Group B while India were ranked number one in Group A. The defending ODI World Cup winners are already without the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, and now Matthew Short has been ruled. The Aussies have added young Cooper Connolly to the squad. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said, “The semi-final lineup is set. India won all their three games, finished at No. 1, and booked an appointment against Australia. Australia are a dangerous team because they are Australia. This team is not looking dangerous because the bowling is not that good,"

The 47-year-old also said “If you analyze the team unbiasedly, you would say the bowling does not have the might. It is a very, very brutal and honest truth. However, since they are Australian, you need to be slightly scared and wary of them. They are that kind of a team. How will you win an ICC event without beating Australia? So it's okay”

Akash Chopra gives India slight advantage due to conditions in Dubai 

Team India went into the game against New Zealand with four spin bowlers. Varun Chakravarthy was named the man of the match after picking 5/42 from his ten overs. Aakash Chopra said that familiarity with the conditions will give the Men in Blue a slight advantage against Australia. 

The former India batter said, “We are through unbeaten. We have won six matches in a row. We won three games against England and have won three here. Winning is a habit, and so is losing. We have come after winning three, and Australia have come after winning just one match. Two of their matches were abandoned. So the momentum is with us. We have the passion to win, and this pitch will suit us.”

During his YouTube show, Chopra said that Australian batting cannot be underestimated. “You won't see timidity anywhere in Australia's batting. Whoever comes will take the attack to the opposition. They won't play cautiously. They will be slightly better if you do man-to-man marking with South Africa. I think Australia will be slightly better in the way they play spin”