India Look To Avenge Defeat Against Australia In Semifinal

Champions Trophy: Having lost their 2023 ODI World Cup final, India would be keen to make amends

- Agencies

DUBAI: History weighs heavily against them but India would rely on a potent spin battery and familiarity with the conditions to break the knockout jinx against Australia when the two formidable cricket forces clash in the Champions Trophy semifinal here on Tuesday.

It will not be a straightforward task, though, as the Aussies are a resilient beast in global tournaments even without their lead cast of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Their stunning chase of 352 against England at Lahore a few days back validates the thought.

The last time India triumphed against Australia in the knockout stage of an ICC event was way back in 2011 World Cup quarterfinal. India lost to Australia in the semi-finals of the 2015 ODI World Cup and in the title clash of the 2023 ODI World Cup before succumbing to them in the World Test Championship final in 2023.

This Indian side will realistically hope to rewrite that largely melancholic script over the last 14 years and the primary reason for that optimism is the presence of some top of the line spinners in their ranks.