Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistani batters could not deliver performance, setting a 242-run target for India to win in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai. All players from the Pakistan side were bundled out for modest 241 runs.
From Indian side, Kuldeep took three wickets, and Pandya claimed two wickets. Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, and Jadeja took one wicket each.
Babar Azam scored 23 runs before heading to the pavilion. After Babar, Imam-ul-haq scored only 10 runs and fell.
After that, the partnership between Rizwan and Saud Shakeel kindled hope as they attempted to add scores to Pakistan. Rizwan scored 46 runs off 77 deliveries, while Saud Shakeel made 62 runs from 75 balls.
Later, Axar Patel delivered a key blow for India in the 34th over, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan for 46 and breaking Pakistan s solid partnership. Saud Shakeel was dismissed by Hardik Pandey.
Chasing the target, India started a striking play. Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten century.
In fifth over of the second innings, Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed a crucial wicket and removed Rohit Sharma.
In the history of sports, this match between arch-rivals is considered one of the most intense clashes.
Since 1952, the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has continued to captivate fans across the world.
In the most recent World Cup 2023 encounter, India cruised to a seven-wicket victory. However, Pakistan has historically shown the knack for delivering strong performance in high-pressure moments.
Earlier, India started their campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy with a striking victory against Bangladesh.
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed expressed confidence, placing his faith in his pace attack.
Due to an injury, Fakhar Zaman was not the part of the Pakistani squad. Imamul Haq had replaced Zaman in Pakistan camp. Imam has delivered 3138 runs in 71 ODI innings for Pakistan, crafting 9 centuries and 20 half-centuries.
Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill, smashed a century against Bangladesh, downplayed the hype surrounding the match.
It is worth noting that Pakistan and India have faced each other five times in the Champions Trophy in the past, with Pakistan having the upper hand so far. However, the upcoming match in Dubai will reveal whether Pakistan’s dominance continues or not.
In the 2004 match played in Birmingham, Pakistan beat India by 3 wickets. In 2009, Pakistan won by 54 runs in a match played in Centurion.
However, India won the tournament by 8 wickets in the 2013 in Birmingham.
Once again, in the Champions Trophy final 2017, Pakistan hammered India by 180 runs to win the tournament.
Pakistan squad
Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice captain), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed.
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, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.
