Dubai, Feb 22 (UNI) India is set to take on Pakistan in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
With the match slated to begin at 2:30 PM IST, cricket enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly awaiting yet another chapter in one of the most thrilling rivalries in the sport.
India, known for their consistency and adaptability, will be looking to crack Pakistan’s unpredictable gameplay. While India started their campaign with a commanding six-wicket win over Bangladesh, Pakistan stumbled in their opening match, succumbing to a 60-run defeat against New Zealand.
Pakistan has already suffered a setback, with opener Fakhar Zaman ruled out due to injury, leading to Imam-ul-Haq’s inclusion. The team, which has often struggled with middle-order collapses, will need to put up a strong batting performance to challenge India’s disciplined bowling attack.
India, on the other hand, boasts a well-rounded squad and is expected to rely on their spin-heavy attack, suited for the slow conditions in the UAE. Despite a recent 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka, India’s dominant 3-0 clean sweep over England has reaffirmed their strength in limited-overs cricket.
A political backdrop also looms over the tournament, as India’s matches are being played in the UAE instead of Pakistan, which was originally designated as the host nation. This move has further intensified the already heated contest between the two nations.
Pakistan’s instability in team management, with the exits of Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, has added to their challenges. Their opening loss to New Zealand has raised questions about their ability to handle pressure in high-stakes matches.
The Dubai pitch is expected to be slow, favouring spinners, while evening dew could provide an advantage to the chasing team. India will look to assert their dominance, while Pakistan will aim for a turnaround to keep their Champions Trophy campaign alive.
As cricket’s fiercest rivalry unfolds, all eyes will be on whether India can decode Pakistan’s unpredictability or if Pakistan can defy the odds and bounce back.
Squads:
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Usama Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh.
