Steve Smith Hints at a Repeat of 2023 World Cup Final Nightmare for India in Semifinal: ‘Spoke to Groundsman Just Now…’

As India and Australia prepare to face off in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal in Dubai, Australia captain Steve Smith has dropped a major hint that India could be in for a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final nightmare.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Smith revealed that the Dubai pitch is a dry surface with plenty of wear and tear, similar to the Ahmedabad pitch in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where Australia stunned India to win their sixth world title.

“Having spoken to the groundsman just now, it’s a dry surface, had a lot of traffic. So we’ve seen how the wickets are played. And India have obviously played really well in their games as well. So it’s going to be a good contest. We’re looking forward to it,” Smith said.

With the pitch conditions expected to favor spin, the match could once again come down to how well Australia handles India’s slow bowlers—a challenge that decided the fate of the 2023 World Cup final.

Is India’s Venue Advantage Unfair? The Debate Continues

One of the biggest talking points of the Champions Trophy 2025 has been the advantage India has had by playing all their matches at one venue—Dubai International Stadium.

• Cricket legends Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, and Vivian Richards have all voiced concerns about India not traveling at all, unlike other teams that have had to adjust to different conditions across Pakistan.
• Australia and South Africa traveled to Dubai before India’s last group-stage match against New Zealand, while other teams have had to constantly move between venues.
• South Africa had to leave Dubai for Lahore immediately after India’s win against New Zealand, while India has remained in one location throughout the tournament.

While Smith didn’t outright call it an advantage, he did acknowledge that India’s familiarity with the Dubai surface could be a factor.

“In terms of an advantage, yeah, maybe, I’m not sure. Yeah, India obviously played all their games here. So they’ve seen what the surface is doing. Obviously, the whole square block’s pretty dry,” Smith said.

With Australia having just a few days to adjust to the Dubai conditions, will India’s extended stay at one venue give them the edge?

The Pitch Factor – Why Steve Smith Thinks It Could Mirror the 2023 World Cup Final

One of the biggest reasons Australia dominated India in the 2023 World Cup final was the slow and dry Ahmedabad pitch, which took away India’s batting firepower and allowed Australia’s bowlers to control the game.

Now, with the Dubai pitch showing similar characteristics, Steve Smith sees an opportunity to exploit conditions once again.

• Dry, worn-out pitches favor Australia’s disciplined bowling attack.
• India’s spin-heavy lineup means Australia must find a way to counter them effectively.
• The toss could be crucial—teams chasing under lights might struggle with turn and low bounce.

If the conditions play out like they did in Ahmedabad, India could once again be at risk of crumbling under pressure against a well-prepared Australian unit.

India’s Spin Attack – The Biggest Obstacle for Australia

While Steve Smith hinted that the pitch could work in Australia’s favor, he also admitted that India’s spin attack poses a massive threat.

1. Varun Chakravarthy – The X-Factor

• The mystery spinner was India’s match-winner against New Zealand, taking five wickets in a game-changing spell.
• Australia will need to find a way to read his variations, or they risk losing quick wickets in the middle overs.

2. Kuldeep Yadav – The Wrist-Spin Weapon

• Kuldeep’s ability to turn the ball both ways makes him a difficult bowler to attack.
• He has troubled Australian batters in the past and could be India’s trump card.

3. Ravindra Jadeja & Axar Patel – The Left-Arm Threat

• Both Jadeja and Axar offer control and accuracy, making it tough for Australia to rotate strike.
• If the pitch is slow, these two will tie down the middle order and force risky shots.

Steve Smith admitted that the match could be decided by how well Australia handles India’s spinners.

“I think not just Chakravarthy. I think the rest of their spin is quality as well. The game is probably won and lost on how we play spin, particularly in the middle overs,“ Steve Smith said.

Australia’s Strategy – How Can They Counter India’s Spin?

To avoid a collapse against spin, Australia will need to approach the middle overs carefully.

1. Attack Chakravarthy Early

• If Australia lets Chakravarthy settle, he could dictate the entire game.
• Aggressive strokeplay from Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell could put India’s spinners under pressure.

2. Use the Sweep Shot More Often

• Players like Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are expected to use the sweep and reverse sweep to disrupt India’s length.

3. Rotate Strike Smartly

• If Australia plays too many dot balls, pressure will build, leading to rash shots.
• They must look for singles and twos instead of just trying to hit boundaries.

If Steve Smith and his team execute these strategies well, they could neutralize India’s biggest advantage and take control of the semifinal.

India vs Australia – A High-Stakes Battle Awaits

With India looking for revenge and Australia aiming to repeat their 2023 success, this semifinal has all the ingredients of a classic.

India’s Strengths Going Into the Semifinal

✅ Unbeaten record in the tournament – Wins against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
✅ Strong spin attack – Chakravarthy, Kuldeep, Jadeja, and Axar in top form.
✅ Familiarity with Dubai pitch – Having played all matches at the same venue.

Australia’s Strengths Going Into the Semifinal

✅ Big-match experience – Five-time World Cup winners, know how to handle pressure.
✅ Travis Head’s form – The opener has haunted India in ICC tournaments.
✅ Steve Smith’s tactical mind – A leader who understands how to exploit opposition weaknesses.

Key Battles to Watch

• Varun Chakravarthy vs Travis Head – Can Head handle the mystery spin?
• Kuldeep Yadav vs Steve Smith – A battle of skill and patience.
• Adam Zampa vs Virat Kohli – The leg-spinner has dismissed Kohli multiple times in ODIs.

With so much on the line, one mistake could decide the match.

Will History Repeat Itself?

Steve Smith’s comments suggest that Australia sees an opportunity to unsettle India on a slow, dry pitch, just like they did in the 2023 World Cup final.

• If India struggles against Australian pressure, the nightmare of Ahmedabad 2023 could come back to haunt them.
• If Australia fails to handle India’s spin, the Men in Blue could dominate and storm into the final.

With everything on the line, will Australia once again crush India’s dreams, or will India rewrite history and book their place in the final?

All will be decided on March 4, as two of cricket’s biggest rivals go head-to-head in Dubai.

Stay tuned for the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal, where India and Australia battle for a place in the final!