Former India cricketer Jatin Paranjape believes India will have the upper hand when they face their arch-rivals Australia in the first semi-final of the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Sunday.

Describing the highly anticipated clash as 'the final before the final', Paranjape told Mid-Day, "It will be closely contested, but I do believe India has the edge, especially with Pat Cummins missing. Steve Smith is an able captain, no doubt, but it’s Cummins’ class with the ball and his ability to rip out batsmen that Australia will miss most. As I think about the match, what seems most important are two things: one, how India's top four fire tomorrow, and two, how they will bowl to Australia's middle order of Inglis-Maxwell-Carey."