Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that India would start out as favourites in their ICC Champions Trophy semifinal clash against the Aussies today in Dubai, however, he cautioned Rohit Sharma's men about their opponent's uncanny ability of playing their 'best cricket' in knockout fixtures.

"I think India are going to start favourites in this game. I don't think there's any doubt about that with what they've done in the tournament so far," Ponting told the ICC Review show.

"India will start favourites, but I'm never going to tip against an Australian team because it's these sort of games and these moments where they tend to play their best cricket.

"I'm really looking forward to the contest. I think it's going to be a great game of cricket," he added.

Ponting, who led Australia to the Champions Trophy title in 2006 and 2009, also downplayed the effects of the defeat India suffered in the ODI World Cup final in 2023 at home against Australia.

"They've got a lot of experienced players in this Indian side, a different coach as well, which might be something that means they haven't talked about it or haven't focused on it, or do they use it as motivation?

"Do they talk about it a lot and try and motivate themselves and get up to redeem themselves from that World Cup final?

"So there's two ways to look at it but if they're playing well, I don't think they need to be focused on anything other than just making sure they find a way to get better every game.

"Big games and big moments like that, you would hope that would be left behind in the dressing room there and that night, and you got to move on pretty quickly."