India will be looking to avenge their most painful loss in recent white-ball cricket history when they face off against arch-rivals Pakistan in a Group A clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The memories of their defeat in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final are still vivid, making this encounter even more intense.
In that final, a star-studded India team, led by Virat Kohli, was stunned by Pakistan. Chasing a target of 338, India was bowled out for just 158 runs, as Pakistan clinched victory, led by a century from Fakhar Zaman. This defeat remains a sore spot for Indian cricket fans, and with several players from that team still in the squad, avenging that loss is undoubtedly on their minds.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan dates back to 1952 and has only grown over time. Every encounter between these two nations generates immense excitement, and this match is no different. The last time they faced each other in a 50-over match was at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where India triumphed with a seven-wicket win. They also met at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup the previous year, with India emerging victorious by just six runs.
For Pakistan, this match is crucial. After a heavy defeat to New Zealand in their tournament opener, they are in desperate need of a win to stay alive in the tournament. Their batting lineup, which is missing the hard-hitting Fakhar Zaman, has looked vulnerable, and they will need to find a way to overcome their recent struggles.
Recent Form:
- Pakistan: Their recent ODI form has been inconsistent, with a 3-0 series sweep of South Africa in December providing a glimpse of their potential. However, they’ve struggled against New Zealand, suffering three defeats in 2025, including the opening match of the tournament. Without Fakhar Zaman, their batting has lacked the firepower it once had.
- India: India has been in excellent form, winning eight out of nine white-ball games this year, with four consecutive ODI victories. They dominated England 3-0 before the Champions Trophy and dispatched Bangladesh in their first tournament match. Even without the injured Jasprit Bumrah, they have shown they can compete with the best.
Key Players to Watch:
- Pakistan: Babar Azam
The star batter, recently dethroned from the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, will be eager to prove his worth. Babar had a relatively lean 2024 by his high standards, but his recent 64 against New Zealand might just be the confidence booster he needs to return to his best form. - India: Shubman Gill
Gill’s rise to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI rankings comes as no surprise given his stellar form. The 25-year-old opener has been in exceptional touch, and after scoring a century in India’s opening Champions Trophy match, Pakistan will be focused on getting him out early to break India’s momentum.
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