Champions Trophy 2025:
In Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India, scores of Indian cricket fans gathered to perform Puja and Havan rituals and seek divine blessings for Team India’s semi-final clash against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. For millions in India, cricket is more than a sport, it is a religion and in Varanasi, where faith and culture are intertwined, the prayers reflect the collective prayer of a nation.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. On March 4, India takes on Australia in Dubai, rekindling one of cricket’s fiercest modern rivalries. Although India goes into this match as a dominant force in recent bilateral encounters, their record against Australia in ICC tournament knockouts is a horror story.
Since 2010, India has lost three out of four knockout matches against Australia, including the 2023 World Cup final and the 2015 World Cup semifinal. The scars of these defeats are deep and fans in Varanasi and across India are leaving no stone unturned to turn the fortunes in their team’s favour.
Fans organized a havan, prayed with posters of Hardik-Rohit
Surprisingly, a video is now going viral through the YouTube channel Northeast Live, in which fans are seen praying to God while holding posters of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Apart from this, there is also a poster dedicated to the Champions Trophy points table in the background.
Fans offered prayers in Varanasi for India's Victory in the Semifinal vs Australia 🇮🇳 [ANI] pic.twitter.com/BXuYosYZm2
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 4, 2025
Emotions and religious faith are running high among fans regarding the upcoming encounter as India has lost to Australia multiple times in ICC knockouts.
India’s only knockout wins against Australia in the T20 World Cup (2007) and the Champions Trophy (2017) offer some confidence. Rohit Sharma’s team is set for Dubai. With Virat Kohli in great form and young players like Shubman Gill rising to the occasion, India has the power to rewrite history.