5 Reasons India can win the semi-finals against Australia

1. MS Dhoni – the leader:

If Michael Clarke is considered one of the best captains going around, then MS Dhoni has proved he is no less when it comes to leadership and mind games. He might not let you know what’s going on in his mind, but a subtle change in the field or the making Suresh Raina bowl 10 overs against Bangladesh are some of his moves which he knows will pay off.

Dhoni has led India will fun, fare, luck and ability which has made him the best ODI captain in the last 6-7 years. India have never lost a semifinal under Dhoni’s captaincy. He will remind Australia of their QF loss in 2011 World Cup, his 3 ICC tournament trophies, his 2008 tri-series wins and numerous other achievements, but if he can demolish Australia to reach the finals, this achievement will pale every other achievement in front of it.

Australian team is as tough as they come; they gave New Zealand a fight to remember in a game they looked out of, after scoring just 151. They don’t accept defeat until they have given everything they can to win. And Dhoni is a captain of similar mind-set. ODIs are a perfect format for him because he can control the game as he likes with clever use of bowlers. He knows the weaknesses of each Australian batsmen and bowlers and has probably made plans to counter whatever Clarke and co. throws at him.

The semi-final between India and Australia will be a match that is a guaranteed classic, and would not be an overstatement to call it a final before the final.