Cricketer-turned-expert Sunil Gavaskar has given a solid reason why India would prefer facing Australia rather than South Africa in the semi-final match of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. For the unversed, South Africa finished first on the points table in Group B and became the fourth team to qualify for the semi-final, joining India, New Zealand, and Australia. However, India will find out which of South Africa or Australia they will face in the first semi-final in Dubai on March 4.
If India beat New Zealand, then they will face Australia, and if the Men in Blue lose to the Kiwis, then they will take on South Africa - the topper of Group B. Regardless of who India will take on in the semi-final match, the match will be played in Dubai.
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Gavaskar, while chatting to India Today, said if given a choice, the Rohit Sharma-led side would prefer to take on Australia due to their bowling attack being slightly weaker sans Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
"Both teams are formidable teams, make no mistake. There's no such team that India will say because now they know they've come to the knockout stages. Here it's now make or break, so I don't think they would prefer to have any team. Maybe Australia because they've played Australia, they know Australia a little bit better than South Africa, whom they last played in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. So maybe they might prefer Australia because they are without their main bowlers. There's no Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood so maybe they would want to play them," Gavaskar told India Today.
South Africa bowling attack best in CT reckons Anil Kumble
Apart from Gavaskar, even Anil Kumble feels South Africa's bowling attack is best in CT due to the variety they possess.
"I think one good thing about South Africa is that all three of their fast bowlers that played today (against England) - of course, Mulder is the one who bowls the middle periods - but if you look at the three tall fast bowlers, all of them are really tall. And all of them are different. Their angles are very different. Rabada is very classical whereas Ngidi is pretty awkward to face with his action and Marco Jansen comes at such height," shared Kumble, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Also Read: Australia Or South Africa - Who Will India Face In The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final
"So, all three are very different. So, that's the nature you want in a one-day (international). That's the variation. Even on a flat track, it's not easy for the batters to line up because all three are very different. And that's something that South Africa can certainly feel [confident] they have this kind of a quality and also the variety going into the business end of the tournament," he added.
