Sunil Gavaskar, India legend, has stated that Team India will be the favorite to win their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia, which will be played on March 4 in Dubai.

India made it three out of three in Dubai with a stunning victory over New Zealand on Sunday, February 2. The spin attack, led by Varun Chakravarthy, contributed to India's 44-run victory.

The Dubai surface has shown to be a spinner's dream, and Gavaskar believes it will offer India an advantage against Australia. Gavaskar also stated that Australia's spin attack lacks punch and is missing key players such as Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc in their bowling.

Gavaskar said that the ideal thing for India would be to chase in the semi-final.

"On this surface, yes, because Australia doesn't seem to have the kind of spinning attack, apart from the fact that they are missing out on key players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Their batting is good. The batting is very aggressive. The ideal thing would be for India maybe to chase, rather than having Australia chase," Gavaskar told India Today.

Gavaskar also felt that on the used track in Dubai, the pitch wasn’t impossible to bat on. According to the cricket great, India's bowlers made it appear impossible for New Zealand to chase down the target in Dubai during the last Group A encounter.

"Not at all. Well, if you had a look at our spinners in the first few overs, they did not get much help. Later on, as the pitch got a little bit better after the rolling after the dew had settled in, there was a little more grip for the spinners, but it wasn't an impossible pitch. There was a bit of a turn. It's just that the bowlers did so well that it was impossible for New Zealanders," said Gavaskar.

India will face Australia on March 4 in the first semi-final in Lahore, while South Africa and New Zealand will clash in the second semi-final on March 5 in Lahore