PAK vs IND Preview: Arch-rivals clash in a blockbuster encounter
The most awaited game of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to take place in Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23 when hosts Pakistan will lock horns with arch-rivals India.
The Men in Green’s campaign in the competition got off to a poor start after suffering a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the tournament opener at Karachi. Centuries from Tom Latham (118*) and Will Young (107) guided the Kiwis to a huge total, while Glenn Phillips’ contribution of 61 played a crucial role at the fag end of the first innings.
In reply, Pakistan struggled early, as the scorecard read 22/2 in the powerplay, and eventually got bowled out for 260. Furthermore, to Pakistan’s woes, opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering an oblique tear during the opening game. Imam-ul-Haq has been named as his replacement.
Meanwhile, India enters the blockbuster fixture with confidence, having secured a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh. Shubman Gill, the world’s No. 1 ODI batter, anchored the chase with a ton, guiding the Men in Blue past Bangladesh’s 229-run target.
KL Rahul provided crucial support, while Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul dismantled the opposition. With only two teams from each group qualifying for the semifinals, Pakistan must beat India in Dubai on Sunday to keep their knockout hopes alive.
Pitch Report
The Dubai International Stadium is a fresh pitch for the tournament. Though the square has seen plenty of action with the Women’s T20 World Cup and ILT20, this strip looked fine, bearing the cracks but not overused. Spinners could get some help early on, while seamers might benefit if there’s any cloud cover. The dimensions vary significantly, with 62m and 74m square boundaries, while straight hits require 82m. Meanwhile, there’s been no dew this year.
Squads
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
