Champions Trophy 2025, Semifinals: India vs Australia in Dubai, South Africa vs New Zealand in Lahore

The travelling issues for the teams have started to take a toll on the teams in Champions Trophy 2025. After yesterday's match, the semi-finalists for the tournament were finally decided. Team India will be playing their semi-final match against Australia on March 4. While South Africa will play their semifinal game against New Zealand on March 5.

Due to the refusal of the Indian government and BCCI to send the team to Pakistan, the tournament was approved to play on the hybrid model. As a result, the Men In Blue were scheduled to play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium, in Dubai. This led to both South Africa and Australia travelling to Dubai before the last game of Group A between India and New Zealand, which was supposed to decide the final venues for the other two top teams of Group B.

With India finishing on top of the table it was South Africa who had to travel to Lahore while the Aussies stayed at Lahore to prepare for the game against India. Notably, India are the only team to have won all three of their games in the tournament. Though the Aussies have only played one full game during the ICC event, they have got the better of the Blue Brigade in ICC knockout events. Hence Steve Smith and his men will look to keep their knockout streak intact in the upcoming Champions Trophy semifinal.

Rohit Sharma focussed on semi-final game

Meanwhile, when it comes to the Indian camp, skipper Rohit Sharma has also seemed to have put all his focus on the semi-final match against Australia and seems to be ready for the challenge. The two-time ICC trophy winner was happy with the team’s performance against New Zealand and shared his views on the game and the upcoming contest.

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“I think it [momentum] is very, very critical when you're playing such a short tournament, You try and possibly win every game that is in front of you and try and do everything right, and while doing that, there are bound to be mistakes but as long as you correct them quickly, that is what matters. I thought the mistakes that we've been making from game one now, we tend to correct those mistakes and that is what is required,” Rohit was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

“It [semi-final] is going to be a good game and obviously we know Australia has a rich history of playing ICC tournaments well. We do understand that; it's about what we want to do against the opposition and try and do that right. We're all looking forward to that contest and hopefully, we can stitch one [more win] towards us,” the hitman concluded.