Former Australian wicket-keeper bat Brad Haddin believes the pressure will be on India to deliver in familiar conditions in the semifinal clash against Australia. India has played all of their three matches in Dubai and has won all three of them against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
India won their opening two matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan by six wickets whereas they defeated New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday. On the other hand, Australia won their opening match against England by five wickets after Josh Inglis scored a fine century in the run-chase of 352 but their last two games were washed out due to rain.
Meanwhile, Australia had beaten India in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup at Ahmedabad whereas the Men in Blue registered a 24-run against the Aussies in the T20 World Cup 2024.
“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 they’re tournament play is spot-on and this is one of those games,” he added.
On the other hand, Haddin reckons there won’t be much pressure on Australia and he backed Steve Smith’s team to beat India.
“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.
“They probably haven’t had the success or style of game that’s really been that attractive for the last six months. So I think the pressure is right on India to make a final. And I think if they don’t make the final, there will be a big reaction,” he concluded.
India will take on Australia in the first semifinal at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Tuesday.
