India, March 3 -- November 19, 2023 had sent India's legion of cricket fans into mourning. That night in Ahmedabad when the Pat Cummins-led Australia silenced a lakh-plus Indian supporters inside the stadium and millions within and beyond the country, many of whom having taken for granted that the ODI World Cup was coming home.

The Indian team that will take on Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final here on Tuesday is virtually unchanged from the one that tripped up in the World Cup final. That is not the case with Australia.

Cummins isn't here in Dubai, only his giant cut-out is. His withdrawal was so last minute there was no time to remove his image from the promotions. Steve Smith, who is leading Australia in Cummins' absence, ...