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Ricky Ponting warns Rohit Sharma’s India not to underestimate a depleted Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final, as they excel in big matches.
Ricky Ponting, Rohit Sharma. (PC: AFP, Sportzpics)
Ricky Ponting has warned Rohit Sharma‘s India against underestimating a depleted Australia for Tuesday’s 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. He believes the Aussies save their ‘best cricket’ for these big matches and should not be discounted.
Both India and Australia flew unbeaten through the group stage, though the latter had two of their games washed out due to rain. The Kangaroos also don’t have their regular skipper, Pat Cummins, and his two best fast-bowling supports, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, for this match.
“I think India are going to start favourites in this game,” Ponting told The ICC Review. “They haven’t had to move and travel. They’ve been training on those wickets all the time. Australia have rushed in to Dubai to get ready… India will start favourites, but I’ll never tip against an Australian team,” he asserted. “These are the moments where they play their best cricket.”
The last time these two heavyweights met in an ICC knockout was the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad where Australia directed one of the most horrific nights in Indian history with their six-wicket win.
Ponting said India won’t let it affect them and might even use the memories as motivation.
“You would hope that would be left behind in the dressing room that night,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of experience, a different coach. Maybe they haven’t even talked about it. Or maybe they use it as motivation,” the former captain remarked.
Ponting picks Australia’s opener
Australia have a small selection choice to make ahead of the big match. Opener Matt Short has been ruled out and the team has multiple options to replace him, including his replacement in the squad, youngster Cooper Connolly and the hard-hitting Delhi Capitals recruit Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Ponting, who has worked with Fraser-McGurk, felt picking him would be the right move.
“He can slot straight into that position. To be honest, that’s the way I would probably go and just hope that he has one of his days because in games like these, the semi-finals, must-win, big games, you need to throw caution to the wind,” Ponting said.
“I think he’s the sort of player that if you back him, and give him an opportunity, he might just be good enough to win a big game for you like that,” he said.
The legend also didn’t rule out Josh Inglis and even stand-in captain Steve Smith doing the role on a temporary basis, either.
For more in-depth coverage of the Champions Trophy, check out the latest Points Table to see where your favorite team stands. Stay updated on the tournament’s top performers with the Most Runs and Most Wickets leaderboards. Keep following for all the latest updates!
