On Sunday, India and Pakistan will clash once again at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with India determined to avenge their bitter 2017 Champions Trophy final loss.
In the aftermath of that defeat, where Pakistan dominated, the result left a lasting impact on India’s cricketing psyche.
Now, five years later, both players and fans alike are eager to see India take control with both bat and ball.
A History of Intensity
The rivalry between India and Pakistan dates back to 1952, intensifying every time the two sides meet.
Given their shared history, anticipation for their CT 2025 encounter is palpable, especially after India’s convincing seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and a tight six-run victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s Struggle for Survival
However, for Pakistan, the situation is dire. After a crushing loss to New Zealand in the tournament opener, as a result, they now find themselves in a must-win scenario against India to stay in the hunt for a semi-final spot.
Furthermore, the absence of their key batter, Fakhar Zaman, has left a noticeable gap in their batting lineup.
As a result, the remaining players must step up and rise to the occasion if they are to keep their hopes alive.
India’s Form and Dominance
In contrast, India enters the match with a strong track record in 2025, having won eight of their last nine games.
Their recent white-ball dominance includes a 3-0 sweep over England, and they look set to continue their undefeated run in ODIs, having comfortably handled Bangladesh in their opening match.
Players in Focus
- Pakistan: Babar Azam is the key player for Pakistan. After losing his No. 1 ranking to Shubman Gill, he will look to bounce back and prove his credentials. In this context, his 64 against New Zealand could very well be the confidence boost he needs to regain his top form.
- India: Shubman Gill, the top-ranked ODI batter, will be the focal point of India’s batting. With his recent form being exceptional, Pakistan will be hoping to find a way to dismiss the 25-year-old opener before he can set the tone for India’s innings.
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.
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