Australia and India are set to clash in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. However, Australia will be without their regular captain, Pat Cummins, who played a key role in their 2023 World Cup triumph. As Steve Smith takes over the captaincy, Cummins’ absence has raised concerns about Australia’s bowling attack and leadership on the field.
Cummins’ Famous ‘Silence the Crowd’ Remark Revisited
Before the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad, Pat Cummins boldly stated, “In sport, there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent.” His team lived up to those words, defeating India and claiming the title in front of a packed stadium of Indian supporters.
Now, as the two cricketing giants meet again in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final, Smith has opted for a quieter approach in contrast to Cummins. When asked about his message for fans, Smith said:
“I don’t really have a message, to be honest. Just going out and playing and hopefully we can put on a good show.”
Why is Pat Cummins Not Playing?
Pat Cummins is missing the Champions Trophy 2025 due to an injury and personal reasons. He recently welcomed his second child and is currently recovering from an injury, making him unavailable for the tournament.
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Australia’s Bowling Concerns Without Cummins
With Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood all unavailable, Australia faces a significant challenge in their bowling attack. Their replacements include young pacers like Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis, but their inexperience at this level remains a concern.
India’s Advantage in Dubai – A Point of Debate
A major talking point before the semi-final has been India playing all their matches in Dubai, while Australia played in Pakistan before moving to the UAE. Cummins himself commented that this gave India a “huge advantage.”
However, India’s captain Rohit Sharma dismissed the claim, stating that each pitch in Dubai has played differently.
“This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don’t play so many matches here. This is new for us too.”
Team Changes Since the 2023 World Cup Final
Both India and Australia have seen key changes since their last ODI encounter in the 2023 World Cup final.
| Team | Players In | Players Out |
|---|---|---|
| India | Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant | Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, R Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Suryakumar Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur |
| Australia | Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha | Pat Cummins, David Warner, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood |
Key Players to Watch in the Semi-Final
- Travis Head: The Australian opener, who played a crucial role in the 2023 World Cup final, will be a big threat to India.
- Steve Smith: Leading in Cummins’ absence, his experience will be vital in handling spin conditions.
- Varun Chakravarthy: India’s mystery spinner, who performed well in group stages, will be crucial in Dubai’s slow conditions.
- Hardik Pandya: Returning to the squad, his all-round performance could be a game-changer.
Can Australia Win Without Cummins?
Despite missing their pace spearhead, Australia still boasts experienced players like Smith, Head, Maxwell, and Labuschagne. Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin believes all the pressure is on India to win, given their home-like advantage in Dubai.
As the semi-final approaches, the big question remains: Can Australia pull off another upset without Cummins, or will India take revenge for their 2023 World Cup final defeat?
