Champions Trophy: Smith wary of India’s spin threat ahead of semi-final

Australia captain Steve Smith acknowledged India's dominance and the challenge posed by their spinners ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final clash in Dubai on Tuesday.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Smith admitted that India’s familiarity with the conditions could play a role in the contest. “India have played all their games here, so they've seen what the surface is doing. The whole square block is pretty dry, and having spoken to the groundsman, it’s a dry surface with a lot of traffic,” he said.

India, led by Rohit Sharma, enter the semi-final with an unbeaten run, having secured victories over Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the group stage. Their latest win came against the Kiwis, where they deployed four spinners to great effect, sealing a 44-run triumph.

Smith, when asked whether Australia had a strategy to counter the Indian crowd, 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.”

The Australian captain also highlighted the importance of tackling spin in the middle overs, particularly against mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who was instrumental in India’s win over New Zealand. “I think not just Chakravarthy, the rest of their spinners are quality as well. For us, the game is probably won and lost in the middle overs—how we play their spin,” he said.

Despite the challenge posed by India, Smith remained confident in his team’s ability to step up, particularly backing opener Travis Head. “There’s pressure every time you play a big game. But as we know, Travis has stood up in many of those in the past. He looked in great touch the other night against Afghanistan, and I’m sure he’s looking to continue that form,” he added.

Australia, who finished second in Group B, began their campaign with a successful chase against England before two of their matches were washed out. Meanwhile, India, on a six-match winning streak, have looked formidable, particularly in home-like conditions in Dubai.

With a slow, dry wicket expected, Smith reiterated that countering spin would be key to Australia’s success. “We’ve got a few options on how we can go about it. It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

The semi-final between India and Australia promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams eye a place in the Champions Trophy final.