Champions Trophy Digest: India and New Zealand seal semis spot; Australia and South Africa eye knockouts

New Zealand and India have stormed into the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from Group A, leaving hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh out of contention.
Rachin Ravindra's sublime 112 powered New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday, sealing their knockout berth and in turn confirming India’s progression as well. Both teams now boast two wins in two matches and will clash in Dubai on Sunday to determine the group winner.

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The tournament has been a disaster for Pakistan, the defending champions and hosts of their first ICC event since the 1996 ODI World Cup. They suffered back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and India, ending their campaign prematurely.
New Zealand have been the dominant force in Group A, following up their emphatic 60-run win over Pakistan with a composed chase against Bangladesh. Michael Bracewell’s career-best 4-36 set up the victory, restricting Bangladesh to 236/9. New Zealand stuttered early but found stability in Ravindra’s ton and Tom Latham’s 55, securing a comfortable chase.

Australia vs South Africa: High-stakes battle for knockout berth
With the Group A semi-finalists locked in, the focus now shifts to Group B, where Australia and South Africa will clash in a crucial match on Tuesday in Rawalpindi. Both sides, brimming with batting firepower, will look to take a decisive step toward the semi-finals.
Australia, often doubted before ICC events, proved their critics wrong with a stunning record-breaking chase against England in Lahore, showcasing their resilience once again.
Dew played a major role in that match and could influence the outcome again in Rawalpindi. Australia’s depleted bowling attack, missing Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, is a concern, but their audacious batting — led by Josh Inglis, Matthew Short, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell — has been a revelation.
South Africa, meanwhile, will rely on their more potent bowling attack, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada, to challenge Australia. Ryan Rickelton’s aggressive century against Afghanistan, coupled with strong middle-order performances, has boosted their confidence. However, Heinrich Klaasen’s availability remains uncertain after missing the previous match due to injury.
Despite an underwhelming build-up, South Africa remain determined to challenge for the title, while Australia aim to prove their tournament pedigree once again. With a semi-final berth on the line, expect a high-stakes, high-intensity battle in Rawalpindi.