India take Oz Head-on with spin power

As they head into Tuesdayrsquos first semifinal of the Champions Trophy India and Australia will have contrasting memories of their last meeting in the knockout phase of an ICC eventmdashthe final of the 50over World Cup in 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where India were halted in their tracks after winning all of their 10 earlier games by Travis Head in a disappointingly onesided title clashIndia players during their 44run win over NZ on Sunday PicsPTIAustraliarsquos 2023 World Cupwinning skipper Pat Cummins isnrsquot here at the Champions Trophy Nor are Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood his pace partnersincrime and allrounders Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis These arenrsquot players that can be easily replaced and yet Australia have found the resources to make up for their absence There is a reason why the Aussies are multipletime World Cup champions a reason why they are so feared and intimidating when it comes to major tournamentsAlso ReadRohit Itrsquos tempting to play four spinnersSmith has run a tight shipThrust back into a captaincy role on a temporary basis Steve Smith has run a tight ship eking out performances from different personnel at different stages But this is a new challenge at a venue where the Aussies will be playing for the first time in this event against an opposition that has swept all its three league games with reasonable ease and has the depth and variety in spin to make the most of the assistance that the pitches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium have offeredScars of rsquo23 World Cup lossRohit Sharmarsquos India have recovered in a manner of speaking from the sixwicket heartbreak in Ahmedabad some 16 months back though itrsquos impossible that the scars have disappeared But they also know that there is no point living in the past What happened in November 2023 canrsquot be undone This is a fresh chapter in a rivalry where their famed opponents have the edge in ICC events mdash 107 in the longer limitedovers format mdash but India arenrsquot unaware that if they bring their lsquoArsquo game to the table they will be practically unstoppableIndia have reason to look back on their campaign with fondness and confidence All the toporder batters have spent enough time in the middle to not be caught unawares while the attack has momentum on its side after bowling out Bangladesh Pakistan and New Zealand Pacers and spinners alike have got wickets Varun Chakravarthyrsquos fivewicket burst against the Kiwis creating a dilemma for the team management India must decide if they should stick with four spinners like they did in the 44run win over New Zealand or leave one spinner out if they opt to go back to Harshit Ranarsquos added pace which was impressive in their firsttwo victoriesConnolly replaces ShortAustralia have flexed their muscles in Pakistan though they will be forced to make at least one change from their last game against Afghanistan Opener Matthew Short has been ruled out through injury and though Cooper Connolly has been drafted in as his replacement the chances of Jake FraserMcGurk figuring in the XI are high In leggie Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell they have incisive spinners of their own but they will know that more than anyone else it is the explosive Travis Head who will occupy Indian mind spaces