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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has reached its business end, and the semi-finalists are now confirmed: India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. While all four teams have displayed top-quality cricket, a remarkable pattern has emerged, leading many to believe that Australia might be destined to win yet another ICC title. The eerie similarities between 2015 and 2025 across multiple cricketing events – including team performances, match venues, key players, and even IPL connections – have sparked speculation that history is repeating itself. Will Australia go on to lift the trophy once again, just like in the past?
7 surprising 2015 cricketing events that could doom India and hand Australia the CT 2025 Trophy
1. A familiar Semi-Final lineup: A decade-old script playing out again?
One of the most striking coincidences between 2015 and 2025 is the semi-final lineup, with the same four teams—India, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand—making it to the knockout stage. This has now happened in three ICC events within the last decade:
- 2015 ODI World Cup – Australia defeated India in the semi-final and went on to beat New Zealand in the final.
- 2023 ODI World Cup – Australia defeated South Africa in the semi-final and once again got the better of India in the final.
- 2025 Champions Trophy – The same four teams have made it to the semi-finals, with Australia set to face India again.
This uncanny resemblance to past tournaments has fans and analysts predicting yet another Australian ICC triumph, given their history of rising to the occasion in global events. If the trend holds, Australia will defeat India in the semi-final and could go on to beat either South Africa or New Zealand in the final—a scenario that has played out before.
2. The ‘Johnson’ curse: A new left-arm pacer haunts India again?
A decade ago, in the 2015 World Cup semi-final, India faced Mitchell Johnson, whose fiery spell dismantled their batting lineup. Virat Kohli’s early dismissal in that game, caught off Johnson’s bowling, was a defining moment in India’s downfall.
Fast forward to 2025, and history has seemingly found a way to repeat itself. This time, another left-arm Australian pacer—Spencer Johnson—is in the squad, ready to play a crucial role in their Champions Trophy semi-final against India. Fans on social media have already drawn comparisons between the two Johnsons, questioning whether Spencer Johnson will repeat what Mitchell Johnson did in 2015. Australia’s lethal left-arm fast bowlers have often troubled India in ICC knockouts, and this eerie similarity has only added to the anxiety of Indian supporters.
3. Virat Kohli’s century against Pakistan: Another omen?
Another striking parallel between 2015 and 2025 is Virat Kohli‘s century against Pakistan in both tournaments.
- In the 2015 World Cup, Kohli scored a century against Pakistan in Adelaide, leading India to a comfortable win.
- In the 2025 Champions Trophy, Kohli repeated the feat, smashing a hundred against Pakistan in Dubai.
While Kohli’s brilliance has always been a source of inspiration for India, the fact that he scored a ton against Pakistan in both these years, followed by India facing Australia in the semi-final, has only strengthened the belief that history is unfolding the same way.
Also READ: India or Australia? Nasser Hussain picks the winner of Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal
4. Knockouts in March: Semi-finals in different countries
Both 2015 and 2025 ICC tournaments have had their knockout matches scheduled in March, further reinforcing the similarities:
- The 2015 ODI World Cup semi-finals were held in Australia and New Zealand.
- The 2025 Champions Trophy semi-finals are being played in Pakistan and the UAE.
5. The 2026 T20 World Cup in India
Adding another eerie similarity, in both cases, the next ICC T20 World Cup was/is scheduled to be hosted in India:
- In 2016, following the 2015 ODI World Cup, India hosted the ICC T20 World Cup.
- In 2026, following the 2025 Champions Trophy, India will once again host the ICC T20 World Cup.
This repeating timeline has raised speculation that Australia might be following the exact same trajectory that led them to World Cup glory in 2015.
6. IPL Coincidences: KKR’s victory and Australian captains losing finals
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has also played a role in this bizarre repetition of history.
- In 2014, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the IPL, and in the following year, the same four teams—India, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand – reached the World Cup semi-finals.
- In 2024, KKR once again won the IPL, and the same four teams have now made it to the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
Additionally, both times KKR defeated an Australian captain in the IPL final:
- In 2014, KKR defeated George Bailey’s Kings XI Punjab to win the title.
- In 2024, KKR defeated Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
7. Rahul Dravid and Ravichandran Ashwin’s Déjà Vu: A return to familiar roles
Another interesting similarity is that in 2015, Rahul Dravid was involved with Rajasthan Royals (RR), and he is back with RR in 2025. Similarly, Ravichandran Ashwin played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2015 and is back with CSK in 2025. These coincidences have left fans wondering whether this recurring pattern is an indication that Australia is destined to win the Champions Trophy, just like they won the World Cup in 2015.
- In 2015, Rahul Dravid was associated with Rajasthan, and Ashwin was playing for CSK.
- In 2025, Dravid has once again returned to Rajastha, and Ashwin is back with CSK.
These small but fascinating connections have made fans wonder if everything is aligning in the same manner as it did a decade ago, hinting at an Australian victory once again.
