As the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final between India and Australia draws closer, cricket fans in Varanasi have come out in full support of the Men in Blue ahead of the big match on Tuesday at the Dubai International Stadium.
India and Australia share a fierce rivalry in ICC ODI tournaments, having faced each other four times since their memorable 2011 World Cup quarter-final encounter. Both teams have won two games each in those clashes. India’s triumphs came in the group stage matches of the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, while Australia emerged victorious in the 2015 semi-final and the heart-wrenching 2023 final.
Tuesday’s match promises to be a battle of equals, with both sides boasting strong line-ups and a rich history of high-intensity encounters. Saifi Ahmed, a cricket academy coach in Varanasi, expressed optimism while acknowledging the strength of both teams. “Both teams are equally matched. It’s all about who performs better on the day. We are hopeful that Team India will become the Champions Trophy winners. Our spin attack is formidable, and I believe the entire Indian team will rise to the occasion and bring the trophy home,” he said.
Local cricket enthusiast Deen Dayal Mishra highlighted India’s strategic advantage on the slow Dubai pitch. “India’s strong spin attack will be crucial on this slightly sluggish track. Australia might struggle against our spinners. It’s essential for India to focus on neutralizing Travis Head, who can be a game-changer. The entire nation stands behind Team India, cheering them on,” Mishra said.
In a show of unwavering support, fans in Varanasi performed a Maha Aarti at the Sarangnath Mahadev temple, with priests chanting mantras and playing the traditional Dhamru to invoke blessings for India’s victory. After the prayers, a cricket fan voiced his faith in India’s chances. “We offered special prayers for Team India’s win against Australia. We believe in Rohit Sharma’s leadership and hope Virat Kohli delivers another iconic performance, like his innings against Pakistan. We are confident that India will reach the final of the Champions Trophy,” the fan said.
India’s Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Australia’s Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
As the countdown to this thrilling encounter continues, fans worldwide eagerly await a match brimming with passion, skill, and the indomitable spirit of cricket.
