Which 2 teams will reach Champions Trophy final?

The ICC Champions Trophy, jointly hosted by Pakistan and the UAE, is reaching its final stages. With only two matches left before the much-anticipated final on March 9, the venue is yet to be decided. If India qualifies, the final will be held in Dubai; otherwise, Pakistan will host the title clash. Both the venue and the finalists will be determined after the semifinals. The top four teams are set to compete for a place in the final, with India facing Australia in Dubai on March 4, while South Africa takes on New Zealand in Lahore on March 5. Which two teams will secure their spot in the championship match?

India and Australia have each won the Champions Trophy twice before. Based on their group stage performances, their semifinal clash promises to be an exciting contest. India has been the tournament favorite from the beginning, finishing at the top of Group A. They secured victories over Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. While the match against New Zealand was competitive, Bangladesh and Pakistan failed to challenge India, with Rohit Sharma’s team winning comfortably. Interestingly, India's bowlers have outperformed their batters, restricting all three opponents to under 250 runs. Against Bangladesh, Mohammed Shami wreaked havoc with a five-wicket haul, while Indian spinners dominated Pakistan. Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul against New Zealand further demonstrated India's bowling strength. This formidable bowling attack could be a major challenge for Australia.

Australia has often struggled against spin in subcontinental conditions. However, they have experience in handling high-pressure matches against India in the semifinals and finals. In the last World Cup, Travis Head single-handedly turned the final in Australia’s favor with his batting. One of India's potential weaknesses is that they haven't yet had to chase a big total in this tournament. The India-Australia match is expected to be high-scoring. Meanwhile, Australia is playing without its best pace attack. The absence of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc could hurt them in the semifinal. Despite finishing second in Group B, Australia has shown its strength, notably chasing a record 350+ total against England. Even though rain disrupted their match against Afghanistan, Aussie batters had already made a strong start. Their aggressive batting against South Africa, had the match not been washed out, was another testament to their dominance. Australia is playing like a champion team, but India might still have the upper hand considering the conditions, strengths, and form.

Looking at the other semifinal, New Zealand might have a slight edge over South Africa. The match will be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where New Zealand has already won a tri-nation series. They have been performing like a top contender in this tournament as well. Notably, since international cricket returned to Pakistan, New Zealand has played the most ODIs there. They have significant experience with subcontinental conditions, and under Kane Williamson’s leadership, the team has maintained a great balance in both batting and bowling. Finding weaknesses in this New Zealand squad is difficult.

Even though they finished as runners-up in Group A after losing to India, New Zealand has been impressive. Their dominant wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh suggest they can pose a serious challenge to South Africa. Historically, South Africa has been known to "choke" in crucial matches. Despite strong performances throughout the tournament, they often falter in semifinals. This time, they will be determined to break that pattern. South Africa reached the semifinals as the unbeaten champion of Group B, securing big wins over Afghanistan and England. If they can perform as a unit, Temba Bavuma’s side has the potential to defeat New Zealand. This match is expected to be a thrilling contest.