India and Pakistan’s rivalry reignites in Dubai at Champions Trophy: Match Preview

India vs Pakistan: A Historic Rivalry Heats Up in the 2025 Champions Trophy

• A Rivalry for the Ages:
  • The India vs. Pakistan cricket rivalry is one of the most iconic in the sport, dating back to 1952. This fierce competition continues to captivate cricket fans worldwide, with both teams bringing their best when they meet on the field.
  • The rivalry has only intensified over time, with South Asian cricket nations India and Pakistan consistently raising the stakes when they face off in major tournaments.
• Recent Encounters Between the Two Teams:
  • The most recent 50-over clash between India and Pakistan was in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where India triumphed with a dominant seven-wicket win.
  • Earlier, during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India narrowly defeated Pakistan by six runs in another thrilling encounter.
• Match Details: India vs. Pakistan:
  • Squads:
    • Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, 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, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
• Recent Form and Key Stats:
  • Pakistan’s Recent Performance:
    • Pakistan’s ODI form has been variable, with their recent encounters against New Zealand resulting in three losses in 2025. However, they bounced back with an impressive win against South Africa ahead of the Champions Trophy and a 3-0 series sweep over the Proteas in December 2024.
  • India’s Recent Dominance:
    • India has been in dominant form, winning eight out of nine games in white-ball cricket this year. Their unbeaten streak in ODIs continues with four wins, including a 3-0 series win over England and a commanding victory against Bangladesh in their opening match of the Champions Trophy.
• Key Players to Watch:
  • Pakistan: Babar Azam
    • Babar Azam, once ranked as the world’s No. 1 ODI batter, has been dethroned by Shubman Gill. Babar’s performance in the lead-up to the tournament has been below his usual high standards, but his recent 64-run knock against New Zealand could ignite his form. Pakistan will be heavily reliant on Babar’s leadership and batting skills if they are to make an impact against India.
  • India: Shubman Gill
    • Shubman Gill, currently the ICC Men’s top-ranked ODI batter, is in red-hot form. After a stunning century in India’s first match of the Champions Trophy, he is poised to further solidify his position at the top of the rankings. Pakistan’s strategy will focus on how to dismiss this young opener, who has been in sensational form in recent months.
• The Stakes of the Match:
  • For Pakistan, this match is a must-win if they are to have any chance of progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025. The pressure is mounting on Pakistan, as they need a victory to stay alive in the tournament on home soil.
  • India, with their current form, will look to continue their dominance and move closer to securing a place in the semi-finals.
• Conclusion:
  • As the India vs. Pakistan encounter in the 2025 Champions Trophy approaches, the intensity and anticipation are at an all-time high. With both teams boasting top-class players, including Shubman Gill and Babar Azam, this match promises to be another classic in the long-standing rivalry between these two cricketing giants.