On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, India and Australia will face off in another high-stakes ICC duel, this time in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-finals. In a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which Australia won, India will attempt to flip the tables.
Travis Head has been a thorn in India's side. From his match-winning century in the World Cup final to his heroics in the World Test Championship finals and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Australian left-hander has loved important moments against India.
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has made it clear: Mohammed Shami must get rid of Head early to shift the momentum in India’s favor.
"Three things that Team India needs to do, which will be essential to win against Australia. The first thing is to overcome the fear of Travis Head and get him out. Shami saab, bahut ho gaya Travis Head ka kaam, ab unko run nahi banane dena hai [Shami sahab, enough of Travis Head, he shouldn’t be allowed to score runs now],” Harbhajan Singh said on Star Sports.
The threat that Head poses is highlighted by his ODI statistics versus India. He has scored 345 runs at an average of 43.12 in nine innings, including a century in the World Cup final. Harbhajan thinks neutralizing him is essential because of his aggressive style at the top, which changes the game.
But India needs to be cautious of other Australian batters besides Head. Two more important individuals who may quickly change the outcome of the match were Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, according to Harbhajan.
"Their lower-order batters, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis, are strong hitters and deal in sixes and fours. They must not be allowed to score runs quickly,” Harbhajan added.
As the Indian team enters a game that might mean the difference between life and death, Harbhajan also offered some guidance. He advised the players to keep things easy, even though a knockout match might be quite stressful.
"The third one is simple — it’s a knockout match, and in a knockout match, one should not try too hard. You have to play in the same manner as you have been playing,” Harbhajan Singh signed off.
