Ponting dismisses World Cup ghosts ahead of India-Australia Champions Trophy semi-final

And then there were four. As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 enters its final week, India and Australia are set to lock horns in the first semi-final in Dubai.

The two powerhouses will meet for the first time in the ODI format since their epic meeting in the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup Final.

WATCH: All On The Line Preview | IND v AUS semi-final | Champions Trophy 2025

While Australia had put in a comprehensive display in Ahmedabad to seal the title a couple years back, former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting believes India start as favourites in their upcoming clash.

Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan in the latest edition of The ICC Review, Ponting said, “I think India are going to start favourites in this game. I don't think there's any doubt about that with what they've done in the tournament so far.

“The fact that they're playing in the venue that they've played their games in. They haven't had to move and travel. They've been training on those wickets all the time. Australia have rushed in to Dubai to get ready for the game.”

Australia qualified for the final four as the second-ranked team in Group B, finishing with four points. India on the other hand, won all of their group stage fixtures to top Group A.

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Ponting added that while India are unlikely to be fazed by their previous meeting against Australia, the Rohit Sharma-led side might even take inspiration from the defeat to shine on the big stage.

“Big games and big moments like that, you would hope that would be left behind in the dressing room there and that night, and you got to move on pretty quickly.

“They've got a lot of experienced players in this Indian side, a different coach as well, which might be something that means they haven't talked about it or haven't focused on it, or do they use it as motivation?

“Do they talk about it a lot and try and motivate themselves and get up to redeem themselves from that World Cup final?

“So there's two ways to look at it but if they're playing well, I don't think they need to be focused on anything other than just making sure they find a way to get better every game.”

India reached the semi-final on the back of their 44-run win against New Zealand in a match where both teams had already secured final-four qualifications.

WATCH: Spinners give India third win in a row | Match Highlights | Champions Trophy 2025

Ponting noted how the win highlighted India’s strengths. “They had to find a way to keep themselves in the game and then turn the game back in their favour, momentum-wise through the middle of that game.

“Having lost those early wickets, you know, Shreyas (Iyer) did a great job again along with Axar Patel and this Indian team, they bat very deep.

“So even when they do find themselves in trouble, they have got high quality players through the middle and experience at the back end of their batting innings as well.

“And that wicket, that was probably one of the more difficult wickets I've seen in the tournament so far. It was definitely slower, definitely spun more.

Shreyas Iyer pushing the boundaries | NZ v IND:

“We know that India play those conditions really well. And we also know that they have got a lot of champion players in that lineup.

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“So even if Rohit doesn't come off, if Virat doesn't come off, then they have got Iyer, Patel, KL (Rahul), these guys, Hardik Pandya, that can step up and get the job done for them in big moments.”

Ponting, however, did throw in a word of caution, emphasizing the threat Australia possessed in a high-stakes knockout fixture.

“India will start favourites, but I'm never going to tip against an Australian team because it's these sort of games and these moments where they tend to play their best cricket.

“I'm really looking forward to the contest. I think it's going to be a great game of cricket. As I said, the toss might not be as important as some of the games that we've seen in Pakistan with the dew coming in and being a lot easier to bat in the second innings.

“But by the same token, if there's not going to be any dew, then I would expect whoever wins the toss to bat first, understanding that the wicket's probably going to slow down a bit through the course of the game. If Australia do happen to bat first, then I think they are a much better chance than that if they have to chase.”