India will be playing against Australia on March 4, Tuesday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal. But one of the biggest challenges that India will face is the dangerous Aussie batter Travis Head. The Australian left-hander has been India’s ultimate nemesis in recent years, delivering match-winning performances in crucial encounters.
Travis Head has been the biggest nightmare for India in ICC knockouts. In the last two years he has solely dominated and helped Australia win matches from the jaws of defeat. In the last two years, Travis Head has established himself as the proven match winner against India. Here are his top knocks:
| Match/Event | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| WTC Final 2023 | 146 | The Oval |
| ODI World Cup Final 2023 | 137 | Ahmedabad |
| T20 World Cup 2024 | 76 | N/A |
| Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 | 448 runs (series) | India |
Also Read: IND Vs AUS: How Can India Stop Travis Head? The Biggest Threat In Champions Trophy Semifinal!
Why Varun Chakravarthy Can Be The Game-Changer Against Travis Head?
Varun Chakravarthy can be a big trouble for batters with his variations, unlike conventional off spinners or leg-spinners. Travis Head is known for his strokeplay but he has struggled at times against mystery spin particularly those who turn the ball both ways.
While Head has dominated traditional spinners, his performance against unorthodox spinners hasn’t been as impressive. Mystery spinners Matheesha Pathirana and Sunil Narine have caused him issues in the past in franchise cricket, demonstrating that he can be vulnerable when unable to read the hand of the bowler.
Given Chakravarthy’s disguised release and unpredictable action, he might cause Head maximum pressure in the middle overs.
Also Read: India Vs Australia, Live Streaming: How To Watch IND Vs AUS, Champions Trophy Semifinal?
Travis Head Average Against Spin
Travis Head has demonstrated his confidence in dealing with spin bowling using an aggressive yet measured strategy to become a highly effective batter in all forms of the game. With a 45.50 batting average and a strike rate of 71.50, Head has exhibited intent and solidity against slow bowlers. With 2457 runs from 3436 deliveries against spin, Head is in firm charge of his batting, and his presence is valuable against spin-filled attacks. India will have to devise a sharp strategy for his spinners in order to stop him in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final.
Australia thrives on momentum and Travis Head often dictates the pace of their innings. Varun Chakravarthy can be the key to unlock India’s way to success in Champions Trophy semi-final with his mystery spin.
