We now come to the business end of the Champions Trophy 2025 as Australia play against competitive rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India go out favourites having won all three league stage games comprehensively beating traditional rivals Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.
Australia does ooze in having made the biggest ODI chase of 354 against England to win in their first outing. They had to live with two abandoned games in their group, the much awaited challenge against South Africa, but looked dominant over Afghanistan despite the fact the game was a no go due to intermediate rain.
India, with a four spin cordon and playing on familiar territory, on paper come out as favourites. The debate rages that the Australian top order of Travis Head, Mathew Short, Marnus Labuchange, Steve Smith, Alex Carey, with Jos Inglis, including the carnage power of Glenn Maxwell will be tested.
Australia has the disadvantage of playing in Dubai for the first time in this competition minus their experienced seam attack of Cummins, Starc, and Hazelwood who have delivered deadly spells in this format.
Steve Smith is bound to miss the trio, especially against the strong Indian batting lineup consisting of Shubman Gill , Rohit Sharma, the indispensable Virat Kholi, the inform Sheyes Ayer, stylish K.L Rahul and the two legitimate all rounders in Axer Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.
Of course, Australia will certainly draw strong clout from their test series thrashing of India when the likes of Kohli and Sharma failed badly.
India has the carnage power of Hardik Pandya, an absolute nightmare of any opposition.
Australia will have to address the spin threat of Varun Chakravrthi, the right arm off spinner, and three left arm spinning options of Axer Patel , Ravindra Jadeja and the wrist spin of Kuldeep Yadev.
Australia has the DNA of winning ICC tournaments with their inborn well-oiled talent and their ruthless attitude.
Australia does not depend on individual performance, but all eleven contribute. Hence, their success story is a game of cricket, a corporate effort, and a prerequisite.
They are playing their bench strength in the seam department, but the difference in an Australian bench strength is that the players offered the baggy green opportunity tend to prove to the selectors that they belong to the park and not the bench period.
Adam Zampa is a threat to any batter who plays spin well, but the Australians do not have a Nathen Lyon type of off spinner to support him.
This game will be challenging for both teams since they know each other well, and Australian players have their wide spread presence in the IPL franchises.
Who will come out on top ?
My answer as a senior journalist is I will kick that question into touch.