India to face Australia in the first semi-final of CT 2025 in Dubai on March 4.
Pakistan cricket superstars Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis believe that the Indian cricket team is the finest among the four teams that have advanced to the Champions Trophy semi-finals in 2025.
The Rohit Sharma-led Team India received high plaudits from across the border when the Men in Blue destroyed New Zealand in their final Group A encounter of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday.
India overcame New Zealand by 44 runs in Dubai, finishing first in their group and advancing to the semi-finals against Australia. The semi-finals will take place on March 4 at the same location.
New Zealand batters tried hard with Kane Williamson scoring 81, but the 37.2 overs of spin by Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja hindered their momentum. Chasing 249, New Zealand was bowled out for 205 runs, with Varun taking 5/42.
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer’s gutsy 79 and Axar Patel’s 42, coupled with 45 from Hardik Pandya, had taken India to 249/9, after they lost the first three wickets early.
Wasim Akram, a legendary fast bowler, remembered India's recent sparkling performance in ICC One-Day International events, claiming that the Indian team has unrivaled depth and confidence.
“Doesn’t matter how much you praise Team India, it will be less. They won six out of their last six ODIs, including a three-match series against England. If you look at their recent ICC record, they have lost just one out of 14 ODIs, that one (2023 ODI World Cup) final against Australia.
That shows the depth and confidence in the team and themselves. They read the wicket well, and layed four spinners. Many people said four spinners should not have been there, but there was no need,” Wasim Akram said on the DP World Dressing Room show.
Wasim Akram also emphasized Team India's spin dominance and the advantage it provides in the Champions Trophy 2025 knockout stage, given that their semi-final is in Dubai, as is the final if they qualify.
“We could understand with great difficulty. New Zealand batters could not understand anything… against such a spinner you can only read through his hands, if you can’t then you will be forced to keep guessing. Their spinners bowled 37 overs, took nine wickets, and hhadan economy of 4.42. I don’t think you can chase 250 against them… Almost 40 overs by spinners,” Akram added.
On the other hand, Waqar Younis said India are the only “complete” team among the four semi-finalists, which also includes Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
“If we see at all four semi-finalists, the complete team is only India. All bases are covered for them. Spinners, pacer, maybe there’s some chink, but their batting, on this pitch although they lost three wickets and then built a partnership and then Jadeja and Pandya chipping in with contribution from lower-order and score 250 on this pitch. Probably if it was some other team and the way New Zealand bowled, it would have been tough to score 250,” Waqar added on the same show.
While India have played well in the Champions Trophy 2025, their aim must be to win the trophy. The last time India won an ICC ODI tournament was in 2013.