Cricket fans around the world are eagerly anticipating a thrilling contest as arch-rivals India and Pakistan face off in a crucial Champions Trophy Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today.
With Pakistan’s tournament hopes hanging by a thread, this encounter is a must-win for the Men in Green. Their campaign began on a disappointing note with a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening match. Another loss would significantly diminish their chances of progressing further, making this a do-or-die situation for Babar Azam’s side.
Read more: Fakhar Zaman in Tears After Champions Trophy Exit
India, in contrast, started their journey with confidence, securing a commanding six-wicket victory over Bangladesh. A win today would strengthen their semifinal prospects, and Rohit Sharma’s team will aim to build on their early momentum.
A Historic Rivalry Renewed
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry remains one of the most intense and closely followed in the sport. Their previous encounter in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 saw India clinch a comfortable seven-wicket win. Pakistan will be determined to turn the tables this time and prove their strength against their fierce competitors.
Pakistan’s Squad Adjustments
Pakistan’s preparations have taken a hit with the absence of explosive opener Fakhar Zaman due to injury. Imam-ul-Haq has been brought into the squad as his replacement and is expected to open alongside Babar Azam.
Key Battle: Pakistan’s Bowling vs India’s Batting
Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, will have a tough task containing India’s formidable batting lineup featuring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul.
A potential challenge for Pakistan could be their reliance on just one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, especially if the Dubai pitch starts to assist spinners later in the game.
Head-to-Head Record
India and Pakistan have faced each other five times in Champions Trophy history, with Pakistan winning three encounters and India claiming two victories. Their most famous clash came in the 2017 final at The Oval, where Pakistan secured a resounding 180-run win to lift their first-ever Champions Trophy title.
In overall ODI encounters, Pakistan leads the head-to-head record with 73 wins out of 135 matches, while India has won 57. At neutral venues, Pakistan has a slight edge, winning 40 games compared to India’s 34.
Match Details
📍 Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
🕜 Toss Time: 1:30 PM PST
⏰ Match Start: 2:00 PM PST
Probable Squads
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (C & WK), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Khan (WK).
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
