AUS vs SA Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | Match 07, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preview & Analysis

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 heats up as two cricketing giants — Australia and South Africa — lock horns in Match 07 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. With both teams eyeing a semifinal spot, this clash promises to be a fiery contest filled with pace battles, power-hitting, and strategic brilliance.

Let’s dive into the match preview, key players, pitch report, and—most importantly—the today match prediction.

🏟️ Match Details

Match: Australia vs South Africa, Match 07, ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Date: Monday, February 24, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM IST | 8:30 AM GMT
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

🌟 Team Previews

Australia Preview 🇦🇺

Australia is coming off a thrilling win against Pakistan, showcasing their depth in both batting and bowling. The Aussies have a solid track record in ICC tournaments and are known for stepping up in big games.

Strengths:

A fiery pace attack led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
An in-form top order with David Warner and Travis Head firing on all cylinders.
Glenn Maxwell’s all-round ability — a game-changer with both bat and ball.

Key Players to Watch:

David Warner: His aggressive approach can dismantle South Africa’s pace attack early on.
Steve Smith: The anchor of Australia’s middle order — crucial for building innings.
Adam Zampa: His spin could be vital on the Eden Gardens pitch that offers grip as the game progresses.

Australia’s Probable Playing XI:
David Warner, Travis Head, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa Preview 🇿🇦

South Africa stormed past Sri Lanka in their opening game, looking confident and composed. However, they’re still searching for their first ICC title and will be eager to make a statement against the Aussies.

Strengths:

A lethal pace trio — Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Marco Jansen — capable of blowing away any batting lineup.
A powerful top order led by Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram.
Spin options like Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj could exploit Kolkata’s pitch.

Key Players to Watch:

Quinton de Kock: The attacking opener can tilt the match in South Africa’s favor within the powerplay.
Aiden Markram: Mr. Consistent — solid in the middle overs and a reliable match-winner.
Kagiso Rabada: His ability to strike early will be crucial against Warner and Head.

South Africa’s Probable Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

🌡️ Pitch Report & Weather Conditions

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Pitch: The surface is expected to start out slow and favor batters for the first half, but spinners will dominate as cracks develop. Fast bowlers can extract swing early, and reverse swing could be a factor in the death overs.
Weather: Hot and humid conditions with temperatures around 30°C. No rain is expected, ensuring a full 100-over game.

Toss Prediction:
Winning the toss and batting first seems the smart choice, as chasing under lights at Eden Gardens tends to be tricky. A score of 280+ will be competitive.

🔥 Key Battles to Watch

David Warner vs Kagiso Rabada:
- Rabada’s pace and bounce will test Warner’s aggressive intent early on.
Quinton de Kock vs Pat Cummins:
- A battle of fire and precision — De Kock’s explosive starts vs Cummins’ deadly accuracy.
Adam Zampa vs Heinrich Klaasen:
- Zampa’s leg-spin could be the key in breaking South Africa’s middle order, but Klaasen loves counter-attacking spin.