“Not Just Chakravarthy, the Rest Too” – Steve Smith Admits India vs Australia Semifinal Will Be Decided by Spin

With just hours to go before the high-stakes Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal between India and Australia, Australian captain Steve Smith has identified India’s spin attack as the biggest challenge his team will face in Dubai.

Speaking to the media on the eve of the match, Smith admitted that the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle will decide the outcome, emphasizing that it’s not just Varun Chakravarthy, but India’s entire spin unit that poses a threat.

“I think not just Chakravarthy, I think the rest of their spin has quality as well,” Smith said. “For us, the game is probably how we play their spin. Yeah, it’s going to be a challenge. I think there’s going to be some spin, and yeah, we’ve got to counter that. We’ll see how we do that tomorrow. We’ve got a few options on how we can go about it.”

With Dubai’s slow and turning pitches favoring spinners, Smith knows that Australia’s performance in the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle will determine whether they reach the final.

India’s Spin Attack – The Key to Victory?

Chakravarthy’s Dream Start in the Champions Trophy

Varun Chakravarthy has been India’s biggest weapon, making an explosive entry into the tournament with a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in his Champions Trophy debut.

His mystery spin and unorthodox variations have troubled top batters worldwide, and Smith acknowledged that Australia must have a clear strategy to counter him in the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle.

India’s Other Spin Threats

While Chakravarthy is dominating headlines, India’s spin attack runs much deeper:

• Kuldeep Yadav – A left-arm wrist-spinner with a proven track record in high-pressure matches.
• Ravindra Jadeja – India’s most experienced all-rounder, known for his accuracy and ability to strangle batters.
• Axar Patel – A left-arm orthodox spinner who brings control and variation to the attack.

With Dubai’s slow pitches assisting spinners, India will rely heavily on this trio alongside Chakravarthy to dominate the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle.

Australia’s Struggles Against Spin – A Major Concern?

While India has embraced spin as their primary weapon, Australia has built their game around pace.

In their last match against Afghanistan, Australia played just one frontline spinner – Adam Zampa. Even in Pakistan, where they played their group-stage matches, Australia relied heavily on fast bowlers.

With three of their best pacers—Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood—already ruled out, the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle becomes an even bigger challenge for Smith’s men.

Smith admitted that his team needs to quickly come up with a plan if they hope to succeed in Dubai’s spin-friendly conditions.

“We’ve got to counter that. We’ll see how we do that tomorrow,” Smith said, hinting at potential tactical changes for the semifinal.

Australia’s Spin Options – Enough to Challenge India?

1. Adam Zampa – The Lone Specialist Spinner

Zampa is Australia’s first-choice spinner, but his effectiveness against India has been inconsistent.

• Has troubled Virat Kohli in the past, dismissing him multiple times.
• Struggles against teams that play spin well, like India.

2. Glenn Maxwell – The All-Rounder Option

Maxwell is a capable part-time spinner, but relying on him in a high-pressure semifinal is risky.

• Tends to leak runs against batters who use their feet well against spin.
• India’s middle order specializes in aggressive stroke play against off-spin.

3. Cooper Connolly – The Surprise Package?

With Matthew Short ruled out, Australia has brought in 21-year-old Cooper Connolly, a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder.

Smith hinted that Connolly might be used as a spin option, but his lack of experience in big matches makes him an uncertain choice in the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle.

4. Tanveer Sangha – The Backup Option

Australia also has 23-year-old leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha in their squad.

• A talented young leg-spinner, Sangha could offer an attacking option.
• Hasn’t played a game in the tournament yet, so throwing him into a knockout match would be a big gamble.

While Australia has spin options, they lack the depth and experience of India in the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle.

How Can Australia Overcome the Spin Challenge?

Smith is aware of the threat posed by India’s spinners, and his team must now find a way to counter them effectively.

Attacking the Mystery Spin Early

If Australia allows Varun Chakravarthy to settle, he can quickly take control of the game.

• Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell will likely try to take him on early.

Using Sweeps and Reverse Sweeps

Players like Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith must use their footwork and sweeping ability to disrupt India’s spinners.

Targeting Kuldeep and Axar Instead of Jadeja

Jadeja’s accuracy makes him difficult to attack, but Kuldeep and Axar sometimes offer loose deliveries.

• Australia must look for scoring opportunities against them instead of going into survival mode.

India vs Australia Semifinal – The Final Countdown

With both teams fully aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, this semifinal promises to be a battle of strategy and execution.

Key Battles to Watch

• Varun Chakravarthy vs Travis Head – The mystery spinner vs the aggressive stroke-maker.
• Kuldeep Yadav vs Steve Smith – A battle of patience and precision.
• Adam Zampa vs Virat Kohli – The leg-spinner vs India’s best chase master.

Will Spin Decide the Semifinal?

As Steve Smith correctly pointed out, the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle will likely be the defining factor in this match.

• If Australia handles spin well, they can neutralize India’s biggest advantage.
• If India’s spinners dominate, it could be a one-sided contest in favor of the Men in Blue.

With everything on the line, will Australia find a way to counter India’s spin attack, or will Chakravarthy and company spin their way into the final?

The answer will be revealed on March 4, as two of cricket’s greatest rivals battle for a place in the Champions Trophy 2025 final.

Stay tuned as the India vs Australia semifinal spin battle unfolds in Dubai!