India and Australia are all set for another big ICC match. This time, they will face each other in the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy on Tuesday. It is a rematch of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where Australia won, and now India wants to reverse that result.
One player who has been a problem for India is Travis Head. He scored a match-winning century in the World Cup final and has also performed well in other big games like the World Test Championship final and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This left-handed Australian batsman enjoys performing well in crucial matches against India.
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has said that Mohammed Shami must try to get Travis Head out early so that India can take control of the game. Speaking on Star Sports, Harbhajan said, “Team India needs to do three things to win against Australia. First, they must 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.” In simple words, he means that Shami should stop Travis Head from scoring runs.
Travis Head’s record against India in ODIs shows that he is a serious threat. In nine matches, he has scored 345 runs at an average of 43.12, including a century in the World Cup final. His aggressive batting style makes him a game-changer, and Harbhajan believes that stopping him is very important.
But Head is not the only Australian batsman India should worry about. Harbhajan also mentioned Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis as two other key players who can quickly change the game with their powerful hitting. He said, “Their lower-order batters, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis, are strong hitters who deal in sixes and fours. They must not be allowed to score runs quickly.”
Harbhajan also advised the Indian team to keep things simple during this do-or-die match. He added, “It is 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.”
With Travis Head’s strong performance in important games and Australia’s ability to shine in big matches, India must follow Harbhajan’s advice perfectly. The contest between Shami and Head might set the tone for another exciting and closely fought match between these two cricketing giants.
