"Mohammed Shami Saab, Bahut Ho Gaya...": India Great’s Advice to Beat Australia in CT 2025 Semi-Final

Dubai: As India prepares for a high-voltage Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has given blunt advice to the team, urging them to take down Travis Head early, contain Australia's power-hitters, and stick to their winning formula.

The much-anticipated India vs Australia encounter is one of the biggest rivalries in world cricket, rivaling even the intensity of an India-Pakistan match. With a place in the Champions Trophy final on the line, the pressure is immense, and Harbhajan Singh, speaking on Star Sports, outlined three key areas where India must focus to emerge victorious.

“First thing is, get the fear of Travis Head out of your mind. Try and get Travis Head out. Shami saab, bahut ho gaya Travis Head ka kaam, now don’t let him score runs. Second, they have hard-hitters like Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, they deal in sixes and fours. Don’t let them score at a fast pace. Thirdly, it’s a knockout game and you don’t need to try too much, just play the way you have played so far,” Harbhajan advised.

Travis Head: The Big Threat for India

Travis Head has been a nightmare for Indian bowlers, particularly the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. His 137-run match-winning knock in the 2023 ODI World Cup final is still fresh in memory, and India will need to find a way to neutralize him early.

While India boasts a strong bowling attack, including the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, containing Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis will also be crucial, as both are known for their ability to clear the ropes with ease.

Mohammed Shami’s Comeback and Ganguly’s Praise

One of India's biggest weapons in this tournament has been the return of Mohammed Shami, who made an instant impact with a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in the opening game. Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has lauded Shami’s resilience, acknowledging the challenges of injuries in a fast bowler’s career.

“Injuries happen to anyone. It is a part of a fast bowler’s career. He has won so many matches for India with Bumrah. He is such a fine bowler,” Ganguly said in an interview with ANI.

Expressing confidence in India’s strength in white-ball cricket, Ganguly added,

“India won the last T20 World Cup (in 2024) and played in the final (of 50-over in 2023). It is a very strong team in white-ball cricket, no matter who is on the opposite side. It has the capability to defeat anyone.”

India’s Road to the Final: A Test of Skill and Nerves

With India playing in Dubai throughout the tournament, they have had ample time to adapt to the conditions, as Rohit Sharma recently pointed out. However, Australia’s all-round depth makes them a formidable opponent, and India will need a disciplined approach to outplay them.

As the two cricketing powerhouses clash in what promises to be an electrifying semi-final, the focus will be on whether India can finally put an end to Travis Head’s dominance and book their spot in the Champions Trophy 2025 final.