Two heavyweights in the form of Australia and South Africa meet each other in match number 7 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. South Africa started their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign with a massive 107-run win over Afghanistan. It was a complete all-round show, with both their batting and bowling hitting the right chords. Australia then made history in the Champions Trophy by completing the highest successful run-chase. They beat England by 5 wickets, chasing down a target of 352.

A win for either side in this Group B contest will see it reach the semis. Thereafter, the losing team’s final group game becomes a must-win scenario.

In terms of the head-to-head record, the two sides have met each other 110 times in the 50-over format. The Proteas have posted 55 wins. Australia have won 51 times. As per Sponnethree games have been tied, and one game has not had any results.

Ahead of a crunch contest between two big sides, here we present the 5 major key player battles that can govern the contest in Rawalpindi.

Kagiso Rabada vs Travis Head

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was instrumental in his side’s win over Bangladesh. He picked a three-wicket haul. Rabada’s pace will once again be a crucial factor for Temba Bavuma’s men. Rabada will want to do well against Aussie star Travis Head, who misfired versus England. Head can be dangerous if he gets going, and Rabada will want to stop him.

As per Sponneacross 8 innings, Rabada has dismissed Head on three occasions. Head averages 20.66, scoring 62 runs from 55 balls. His strike rate reads 112.72.

Versus left-handed batters in ODIs, Rabada averages 29.87 across 100 innings, having claimed a total of 57 wickets.

Meanwhile, in the power play (overs 1-10), his average shoots up to 38.86. From 83 innings, he has 22 scalps against left-handed batters.

Head has smashed 635 runs from 42 innings in the PP overs versus right-arm pacers at 39.68. He has been dismissed 16 times. Overall, he averages 36.57 from 64 innings against right-handed pacers with 1280 runs (35 dismissals).

More Idi vs Steve Smith

SA right-arm pacer Lungi Ngidi gave a good account of himself in the match versus Afghanistan, where he picked two scalps.

Ngidi would be an asset with the new ball. He has 99 wickets in ODIs. Ngidi will aim to disrupt Steve Smith, who fell to fast bowler Mark Wood in the England game for a paltry score.

Ngidi has bowled to Smith across three innings. Smith averages 20, having been dismissed once. He owns 20 runs from 28 balls.

Overall, Ngidi owns 70 scalps versus right-handed batters in ODIs at 27.14 from 63 innings. Digging deeper, his average reads 28.11 in Asia against right-handed batters, with 26 scalps from 23 innings.

Smith owns 3020 runs versus right-arm pacers in ODIs from 142 innings at 43.14.

He has been dismissed 70 times. In Asia, his average drops to 37.06 from 32 innings (15 dismissals).

Adam Zampa vs Aiden Markram

Australian spinner Adam Zampa played a key role in a game-changing show against England at a crucial phase of the match. The right-arm leg-spinner will have his task cut out against Aiden Markram in this clash. Markram is a decent spin player, and he was also amongst the runs versus the Afghans.

Across 6 innings, Markram has scored 59 runs from 51 balls off Zampa, being dismissed once. His strike rate is 115.68.

Against right-handed batters, Zampa holds an average of 26.43 in ODIs from 107 innings with 136 scalps taken. In Asia, his average improves to 22.85 from 42 innings with 62 dismissals.

Markram averages 34.62 versus right-arm leg-spinners in ODIs. Across 32 innings, he owns 277 runs (8 dismissals). In Asia, his average dips to 26.33 from 7 innings. He owns 79 runs (3 dismissals).

Glenn Maxwell vs David Miller

Glenn Maxwell’s all-round show is vital for the Aussies. Versus England, he bowled 7 overs and picked a wicket. He then made a solid contribution with the bat. Maxwell, who will be required to chip in with 7-8 overs, could be targeted by David Miller, who is a vital force in the middle.

Across 5 innings, Miller has scored 63 runs off Maxwell from 80 balls. He hasn’t been dismissed yet. His strike rate is 78.75.

Across 92 innings, Maxwell averages 43.06 versus left-handed batters in ODIs. He has picked 30 wickets. In Asia, his average is 42.90. He has picked 10 scalps from 30 innings.

Miller has scored 858 runs at 45.15 from 85 innings against right-arm off-break spin. He has been dismissed 19 times. In Asia, his average reads a poor 20.38. From 29 innings, he has been out 13 times.

Spencer Johnson vs Ryan Rickelton

Aussie left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson was not quite in his element against England and was punished for runs. He ended up bowling only 7 overs. Johnson will want to make amends and work on his offerings. He needs to do well as a new ball bowler. He will be up against an in-form Ryan Rickelton, who smashed a brilliant century against the Afghans.

Johnson and Rickelton are yet to face each other in international cricket.

Across 4 innings, Johnson averages a high 44.50 in the PP overs. His ER reads 5.93, and he owns two scalps. Overall in ODIs, Johnson has also struggled against left-handed batters, conceding 56 runs and picking one wicket across 4 innings.

Rickelton has averaged a solid 59.50 in the powerplay overs. He has featured in 7 innings, scoring 119 runs and being dismissed twice. Against left-arm pacers, he owns 27 runs overall in ODIs from 35 balls from 2 innings.