Pakistan vs. India: Champions Trophy 2025 Showdown
Match Details:
- Teams: Pakistan vs. India
- Tournament: ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- Venue: Dubai International Stadium, UAE
- Date & Time: Sunday, February 23, 1:00 PM (09:00 GMT)
Pakistan, the host nation and a strong contender, will clash with arch-rivals India, one of the favorites to win the tournament, in what is expected to be an electrifying Champions Trophy fixture. This encounter is considered one of the biggest rivalries in international sports, attracting global attention and massive TV audiences.
Background and Stakes: Beyond just cricketing supremacy, there is much at stake in this high-voltage match. Pakistan faced a setback in their opening game, suffering a 60-run defeat against New Zealand. Meanwhile, India started their campaign on a winning note, securing a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh.
Why Is India Playing in the UAE Instead of Pakistan?
Despite Pakistan being the official host, India will play all its matches in the UAE. This arrangement results from an agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the International Cricket Council (ICC), and Pakistan, ensuring that both nations play ICC events hosted in either country at neutral venues until 2027.
Pakistan’s Hosting History
Pakistan has not hosted a major international tournament since the 1996 Cricket World Cup, which it co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka. The 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore led to top teams avoiding Pakistan for years. The Champions Trophy 2025 marks a significant return for international cricket in the country.
Are Pakistan the Favorites?
While Pakistan won the last edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017, defeating India in the final, the latter has been more consistent since then. Pakistan boasts match-winners like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, but unpredictability and off-field issues continue to plague them.
Coaching instability has also been a concern. Gary Kirsten, appointed as the white-ball coach, stepped down, followed by his replacement, Jason Gillespie. Despite these challenges, Pakistan will look to capitalize on home advantage and deliver a strong performance.
Why Is India Considered the Strongest Contender?
India had a challenging start in their first match against Bangladesh, but Shubman Gill’s century ensured a successful chase. The team is eager to redeem itself after losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia. Their triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup has boosted their confidence, and winning the Champions Trophy by defeating Pakistan would be a significant achievement for Rohit Sharma’s squad.
Head-to-Head in the Champions Trophy
Pakistan and India have faced off five times in Champions Trophy history, with Pakistan winning three times. The rivalry remains intense, and each contest brings a fresh challenge.
Pakistan’s Recent Form
Pakistan’s defeat against New Zealand marked their third consecutive loss to the Kiwis, following two defeats in a pre-tournament tri-series with South Africa. However, their recent away form has been impressive, with victories in their last three ODI series, including a notable 2-1 win over world champions Australia and a dominant 3-0 sweep against South Africa.
India’s Recent Form
India experienced a dip in form with a 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka last year but bounced back by whitewashing England 3-0 just before the tournament. This resurgence, along with Gill’s excellent performance, has strengthened India’s prospects.
Team News & Key Players
Pakistan Squad & Updates
Pakistan suffered a major setback as opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out due to a chest muscle injury. Imam-ul-Haq has been called up as his replacement.
Pakistan Squad:
- Mohammad Rizwan (Captain)
- Salman Ali Agha (Vice-Captain)
- Babar Azam
- Fakhar Zaman (Injured)
- Kamran Ghulam
- Saud Shakeel
- Tayyab Tahir
- Faheem Ashraf
- Khushdil Shah
- Usman Khan
- Abrar Ahmed
- Haris Rauf
- Mohammad Hasnain
- Naseem Shah
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
India Squad & Updates
India is expected to retain the same playing XI from their opening match against Bangladesh. Their spin trio—Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel—will play a crucial role on the spin-friendly Dubai surface.
India Squad:
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah (Injured)
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Varun Chakravarthy
As the cricketing giants prepare to lock horns, anticipation is at an all-time high. Fans from both nations and across the world eagerly await what promises to be an unforgettable clash.
