'Don’t want to play Australia': Kuldeep Yadav exposes Rohit Sharma & Co’s fear in victorious CT campaign

Kuldeep Yadav has opened up about the most surprising yet interesting thing about the mindset of the India National Cricket Team during their victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign in Dubai. India had defeated New Zealand by four wickets to lift the trophy after more than a decade.

Days after winning the second ICC title within ten months, Kuldeep Yadav recently revealed how the India National Cricket Team was happy to face Australia in the semifinal, as they didn’t want to face the Kangaroos in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final.

Kuldeep Yadav reveals India wanted to face Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinal

The Chinaman bowler revealed that the Indian team felt that taking on the Australians in the semifinal would be better than facing them in the final, given their past heartbreaks in the mega-events, and this time, luck was on their side.

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Notably, Australia handed two major heartbreaks to India in 2023, shattering their hopes of winning the ICC World Test Championship and ODI World Cup. However, it was a revenge time for the Men in Blue, as they registered a thrilling four-wicket win in the semifinal to kick out Australia from the ICC Champions Trophy.

The Indian team was on the top of the Group A table after winning all three matches, while Australia finished second in Group B after two of their games were washed out by rain. However, Australia put up a solid fight, but Virat Kohli’s brilliance led India to a memorable victory in the semifinal to reach the finals.

We don't want to play them in the final: Kuldeep Yadav

Well, Kuldeep has now admitted that memories of losing to Australia in the 2023 WTC Final and the 2023 ODI World Cup Final were still fresh. And that’s why they were relieved to face them in the semifinal rather than risking another heartbreaking loss in the CT 2025 final.

Kuldeep Yadav told Michael Clarke on the Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast: “I had hernia surgery in November, so it was difficult to come back and find the same rhythm. I personally believe that it was a good tournament for us.

We wanted to face Australia in the semi-final; we don't want to play them in the final. It's a totally different pressure. Much better to play them in the semifinal rather than in the final.”

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Kuldeep Yadav reveals BCCI got strict after Australia tour

The Indian spinner, who scalped seven wickets from five games, admitted that they needed something big to improve their image after losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia earlier this year. He also admitted that no one can take their spot for granted, as new talent keeps emerging in India.

Kuldeep signed off by saying, “We lost the series against Australia, and there was a lot of media attention, and the BCCI got strict as well. You have to be on your toes every series, and that's how it works here in India. You can't take your place in the team for granted, because there are so many players coming up.”

The wrist-spinner is currently playing for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing IPL 2025, where he will be next seen in action on March 30 when his team will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Vishakhapatnam.