The Australia vs South Africa (Champions Trophy) match, scheduled for February 25, 2025, is set to be a thrilling contest as both teams fight for a crucial win in Match 7 of ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Taking place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, this high-stakes encounter will test the batting depth, bowling strategies, and overall team strength of these two cricket powerhouses.
Fans can expect an intense battle between Australia’s aggressive top order and South Africa’s lethal pace attack, making this a must-watch fixture. Let’s dive into the pitch report, Dream11 fantasy cricket tips, match time, and live streaming details for this exciting showdown.
Match Details
📅 Date: February 25, 2025
🏟️ Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
🕒 Time: 2:30 PM IST (9:00 AM GMT / 2:00 PM Local Time)
🎯 Match Number: 7th match of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Pitch Report – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is well known for its batting-friendly conditions, with good bounce and pace. However, bowlers—especially pacers—can find some movement with the new ball in the early overs.
- Average First Innings Score: ~242 runs
- Highest Team Total: 337/3 (Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2023)
- Lowest Team Total: 104 (Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 2004)
- Highest Successful Chase: 337/3 (Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2023)
- Pacers’ Advantage: Early swing and bounce in the first 10 overs.
- Spinners’ Role: Middle overs will be key, especially if the pitch slows down.
Toss Strategy: Teams may prefer to bat first and put runs on the board, as chasing under lights can be tricky in Rawalpindi. However, with dew likely to play a role in the second innings, captains might opt to bowl first.
Squads for Both Teams
🇦🇺 Australia Squad
Steven Smith (c), Matthew Short, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tanveer Sangha
🇿🇦 South Africa Squad
Temba Bavuma (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch
Dream11 Tips – Best Fantasy Cricket Picks
Building a winning Dream11 team requires a balanced mix of in-form batters, reliable all-rounders, and wicket-taking bowlers. Here’s a fantasy team guide to help you maximize your points.
🧤 Wicketkeepers (Best Picks)
✅ Josh Inglis (Australia) – In red-hot form, scoring 120 vs England* recently. A top pick with both bat and gloves.
✅ Ryan Rickelton (South Africa) – Scored 103 in his last match against Afghanistan, making him a safe Dream11 option.
🏏 Batters (Must-Pick Players)
✅ Travis Head (Australia) – Aggressive top-order batter, has 368 runs in 13 ODIs against South Africa.
✅ Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa) – Dependable performer with 244 runs in 7 ODIs vs Australia.
✅ Steve Smith (Australia) – The Australian captain has 733 runs against South Africa in ODIs, making him a solid middle-order choice.
🌀 All-Rounders (Powerhouse Players)
✅ Aiden Markram (South Africa) – Scored 50+ in his last match, offers handy off-spin bowling.
✅ Glenn Maxwell (Australia) – Explosive hitter, plus he bowls useful off-spin.
✅ Marco Jansen (South Africa) – Contributed 160 runs and 10 wickets in his ODI career vs Australia.
🎯 Bowlers (Wicket-Taking Picks)
✅ Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – Has 30 wickets in 16 ODIs against Australia. A lethal strike bowler.
✅ Adam Zampa (Australia) – One of the most effective leg-spinners, can control the middle overs.
✅ Keshav Maharaj (South Africa) – If the pitch assists spin, he can be a game-changer.
🏆 Suggested Dream11 Team
| Role | Player Name (Team) |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeeper | Josh Inglis (C) (AUS), Ryan Rickelton (SA) |
| Batters | Travis Head, Steve Smith, Rassie van der Dussen |
| All-Rounders | Aiden Markram, Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen |
| Bowlers | Kagiso Rabada (VC), Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson |
Captain & Vice-Captain Choices
🔥 Captain (C): Josh Inglis – His match-winning 120 against England* makes him a top choice.
🔥 Vice-Captain (VC): Kagiso Rabada – Likely to take wickets in both powerplay and death overs.
💡 Strategy:
✔️ Pick top-order batters since Rawalpindi favours high scores.
✔️ Include strike bowlers like Rabada and Zampa for wickets.
✔️ Consider a batting-heavy line-up if conditions favour run-scoring.
Live Streaming & Telecast Details
📺 TV Broadcast (India):
✅ Star Sports 2 HD/SD (English)
✅ Sports 18 1 HD/SD (Hindi)
📡 Live Streaming (India):
✅ JioHotstar (app and website)
📡 Live Streaming (Other Regions):
- 🇿🇦 South Africa – SuperSport
- 🇦🇺 Australia – Kayo Sports & Fox Cricket
- 🇬🇧 UK – Sky Sports Cricket
- 🇺🇸 USA & Canada – Willow TV
Match Prediction – Who Has the Edge?
🔥 Australia’s Strengths:
✔️ Batting Depth – Travis Head & Steve Smith lead a strong line-up.
✔️ Spin Attack – Adam Zampa could be a key factor.
🔥 South Africa’s Strengths:
✔️ Pace Trio (Rabada, Ngidi, Jansen) – They can exploit Rawalpindi’s bounce.
✔️ Balanced Middle Order – Markram, Miller, and van der Dussen provide stability.
🔮 Prediction: Australia Slight Favourites – With a stronger batting depth, they might edge out South Africa in a high-scoring game. However, if Rabada and Ngidi strike early, South Africa could dominate.
Final Remarks
The Australia vs South Africa (Champions Trophy) match is set to be an exciting clash between two of the world’s best teams. While Australia boasts batting firepower, South Africa’s lethal bowling attack could be the game-changer.
With Dream11 fantasy points at stake, make sure to pick the right captain, all-rounders, and strike bowlers! Stay tuned for this thrilling encounter on 25 February 2025! 🎉🏏