India will face off against arch-rivals Pakistan in a crucial Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium today, with a spot in the semifinals of the ongoing Champions Trophy on the line.
The last time these two teams met in a Champions Trophy event was during the 2017 final, where Virat Kohli’s star-studded team was comprehensively beaten by Pakistan. India was dismissed for just 158 runs while chasing down a daunting target of 338, with Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman scoring a match-winning century. For the players involved in that heartbreaking defeat, the chance for revenge will certainly be on their minds, and fans will be hoping to see India dominate Pakistan with both bat and ball.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan, which dates back to 1952, is one of the most intense in cricket. Every encounter between these two South Asian nations is charged with emotion, and anticipation for this match is at an all-time high. Their last 50-over meeting was in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where India secured a seven-wicket victory. The two teams also clashed in last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where India won by a narrow six-run margin.
For Pakistan, this match is a must-win, as they need to bounce back from a crushing defeat to New Zealand in their tournament opener. Without their explosive opener Fakhar Zaman, their batting line-up looks more vulnerable than ever.
Recent Form:
- Pakistan: Pakistan’s recent ODI form has been inconsistent, with their defeat to New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Trophy highlighting their struggles. However, they did manage to defeat South Africa in the lead-up to the tournament, following a 3-0 series win over the Proteas in December last year.
- India: India has been in exceptional form, winning eight out of their last nine white-ball games this year, with four consecutive ODI victories. They recently whitewashed England 3-0 in the build-up to the Champions Trophy and triumphed over Bangladesh in their opening match of the tournament. Even without the injured Jasprit Bumrah, India has shown they can compete with the best.
Players to Watch:
- Pakistan: Babar Azam
Babar Azam, the star batter, recently lost his position as the world’s No.1 ranked ODI player. His 64-run knock against New Zealand could serve as the confidence boost he needs to return to his world-class form. India will be targeting Babar as a key wicket in this must-win clash for Pakistan. - India: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill is in sensational form and has been one of India’s most consistent performers. The ICC Men’s top-ranked ODI batter, Gill is coming off a brilliant century in India’s opening Champions Trophy match. Pakistan will be aiming to break his solid partnership with Rohit Sharma and dismiss the 25-year-old opener early.
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
As both teams prepare to battle it out in Dubai, the stakes couldn’t be higher. India looks to avenge the 2017 Champions Trophy final defeat and secure their place in the semifinals, while Pakistan fights for survival in the tournament. This encounter promises to be another chapter in their fierce rivalry.