“All the pressure is on them” - Former Australian cricketer predicts favorites of India vs Australia semi-final clash in Champions Trophy 2025

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin has commented that India would be under pressure ahead of the semi-final contest against Australia in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Notably, India is playing the showpiece event at the same venue at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Though Haddin feels India will have experience of playing at the same venue, the pressure will always be on them.

"India are in the unique position that they've played every game at the same venue, there is no grass in the square, it is dry. It suits India and I just think all the pressure is on them," Haddin said on the Willow Talk podcast.

"They've got it set up, they're playing great cricket but it's a one-off shootout. Australia pride themselves on making sure their tournament play is spot-on and this is one of those games," he added.

On the other hand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has stated that despite the surface being the same in all three games of the group stage, it behaved differently. He added that this is not their home and it’s a completely new venue for them too.

"Look, the three matches we played, the nature of the surface was the same. But in all three games, the pitch has behaved differently. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, so this is new for us too," Rohit Sharma said during the pre-match press conference.

Furthermore, Haddin has asserted that there wouldn’t be much pressure on the Aussie. He added that Australia would be comfortably defeating India in Dubai conditions. 

"I don't think there's any pressure on the Australians at all. They've (India) had it all their own way and I can see - I don't know whether it's an upset - but I can see Australia beating India in these conditions. And I hope so, especially for where the tournament's been," Haddin predicted.

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