Former Pakistan Captain Feels India Holds Upper Hand Against Arch-Rivals in Champions Trophy 2025

Shahid Afridi said that India has more match-winners than Pakistan. The two teams will face off in the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Sunday.

Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Amir Share Diverging Views on India-Pakistan Rivalry Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 Clash

Ahead of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in the 2025 Champions Trophy on February 23 in Dubai, former Pakistan cricket stars Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Amir have shared differing opinions on which team holds the advantage.

Shahid Afridi: India Holds the Edge Over Pakistan

• India’s Match-Winners:
  Shahid Afridi believes India has a stronger team going into the match. He pointed out that India has more match-winners who can turn a game single-handedly, something Pakistan currently lacks.
  • “If we talk about matchwinners, I’d say that India has more matchwinners compared to Pakistan. A matchwinner is someone who knows how to win the game single-handedly. Right now, we don’t have such players in Pakistan,” Afridi said during Greatest Rivalry Returns on JioHotstar.
• India’s Strength in Middle and Lower Order:
  Afridi credited India’s consistency in the middle and lower order as a major strength, with these players often winning matches for the team.
  • “India’s strength lies in its middle and lower order, which has been winning them matches,” he stated. “For a long time, we have been giving opportunities to players, but no one has stepped up consistently. Some have performed in a few games, but we don’t have players who have sustained their performance for a year, two years, or across 50-60 matches.”
• Pakistan’s Weakness:
  Afridi highlighted that Pakistan lacks the same level of consistency, where players have not been able to maintain performances over an extended period.
  • “That’s where we are a little weaker compared to India, which is very strong in this area,” Afridi remarked.
  • He also emphasized that defeating India requires a collective team effort from Pakistan, with contributions needed from batsmen, bowlers, and spinners.

Mohammed Amir: Pakistan and New Zealand Set to Qualify

• Contradictory Opinion:
  While Afridi sees India as the favorites, former pacer Mohammad Amir holds a different view, suggesting that India is not as strong due to the absence of key players. He believes Pakistan and New Zealand will advance to the semi-finals from Group A.
  • “I think New Zealand are the most balanced side in Group A. Not even India. In my opinion, New Zealand and Pakistan will qualify from Group A,” Amir said.
• Concerns Over India’s Bowling Attack:
  Amir pointed out that India’s bowling attack is significantly weaker without Jasprit Bumrah, and with Mohammed Shami returning from injury, he doesn’t believe the Indian pace attack is as effective as it used to be.
  • “India is massively disadvantaged due to the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammad Shami has just returned from injury and isn’t bowling like the Shami of old. I don’t think you can rely on him,” he explained.
• Prediction for the India-New Zealand Match:
  Amir went further to predict that New Zealand would defeat India in Dubai, given their current form.
  • “I think New Zealand will beat India in Dubai,” he concluded, confident that New Zealand would come out on top in the critical match.

Pakistan’s Must-Win Matches

With both India and Bangladesh ahead in the tournament, Pakistan is facing must-win games to qualify for the semi-finals. As the rivalry between India and Pakistan intensifies, both Afridi and Amir’s insights shed light on the varying perspectives about the competition and the path ahead for Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy.