India vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Match Preview and Analysis

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is underway, and one of the most highly anticipated matches is the clash between India and Pakistan. The two teams will face off at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with India looking to build on their winning start against Bangladesh and Pakistan seeking to turn their fortunes around after a disappointing start. India went with an unchanged XI for their second Group A match against Pakistan, leaving the likes of Rishabh Pant, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar on the bench.

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar shared his thoughts on India's team selection, stating that there was no need for changes given their winning combination. He suggested that the only possible change could have been bringing in Varun Chakravarthy, but Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul in the previous match and Harshit Rana's decent performance made it unnecessary. The match against Pakistan is a high-stakes clash, with India seeking to avenge their defeat in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, with Imam-ul-Haq replacing Fakhar Zaman in their lineup.

India's captain Rohit Sharma expressed his confidence in his team's ability to perform on the slower pitch, citing their experienced batting unit. He emphasized the importance of an overall team performance, both with bat and ball. The Indian team will rely on their batting depth, bowling attack, and fielding skills to outmaneuver their opponents. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing start and secure their first win in the tournament. A loss for Pakistan would severely dent their qualification hopes, making this match a must-win for them.

The predicted playing XI for India includes Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, and Kuldeep Yadav. Pakistan's lineup features Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed. The match is expected to be a closely contested one, with both teams having the potential to win. Here are the match scores and player statistics to watch out for:

• India's previous match score: 6-wicket win over Bangladesh
• Pakistan's previous match score: Lost to [opponent]
• Shubman Gill's batting average: 50+ runs
• Mohammad Shami's bowling average: 5 wickets

In the event that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill fail to perform against Pakistan, India's middle order will be put to the test. However, according to Sunil Gavaskar, India has the all-rounders to soak up the pressure and score runs. Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja have the skills and talent to make a significant impact with the bat. While an early dismissal of the openers may make India nervous, it will not significantly impact their chances of winning the match.