India vs Pakistan: The Rivalry Lives On
India and Pakistan share a long cricketing history, making every contest between these two teams a highly anticipated event. India vice-captain Shubman Gill aptly summarized the hype, stating, “It’s an exciting contest when these two teams play. Everyone enjoys watching it.” As February 23 approaches, cricket fans worldwide are gearing up for yet another thrilling encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
With record-breaking television viewership expected and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium set to be packed, the match remains a marquee clash. While India has enjoyed dominance over their neighbors in recent years, Pakistan still has the capability to surprise on their day.
India vs Pakistan: Head-to-Head in ICC Tournaments
| Tournament | Matches Played | India Wins | Pakistan Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODI World Cups | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| T20 World Cups | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Champions Trophy | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Asia Cup (ODIs) | 13 | 7 | 5 |
| Asia Cup (T20s) | 4 | 3 | 1 |
India has been the dominant force in ICC tournaments, but Pakistan has had its moments, notably their Champions Trophy 2017 final victory.
India vs Pakistan: Key Match-ups & Team Form
Recent Form
| Team | Last Five Matches |
| India | WWWWW (Won 3-0 vs England, Won vs Bangladesh) |
| Pakistan | LWLLL (Lost to New Zealand, Lost in home tri-series final) |
India comes into this contest in red-hot form, while Pakistan is struggling to find consistency.
Player Battles to Watch
- Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi – Shaheen has troubled Rohit in the past, but the Indian captain dominated him in the last ODI World Cup encounter.
- Virat Kohli vs Abrar Ahmed – Kohli has recently struggled against leg-spinners, and Abrar could pose a challenge.
- Mohammed Shami vs Babar Azam – Shami is in top form, and Babar has looked out of rhythm since shifting to an opening role.
India vs Pakistan: Team News & Probable XIs
India Probable XI
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Shubman Gill (VC)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (WK)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Harshit Rana
India may consider bringing in mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, depending on pitch conditions.
Pakistan Probable XI
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (C)
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Tayyab Tahir
- Khushdil Shah
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
- Abrar Ahmed
Fakhar Zaman injury is a massive blow, and Pakistan will likely slot Imam-ul-Haq into the playing XI.
India vs Pakistan: Pitch & Conditions in Dubai
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium has seen plenty of cricket in recent months due to the ILT20 league. The pitches have slowed down significantly, offering assistance to spinners and making strokeplay difficult. The India-Bangladesh game earlier in the tournament showcased that 250-280 could be a competitive total.
Pakistan strength has traditionally been their bowling, but their pace attack of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf has been inconsistent. If the pitch turns out to be slow, Pakistan’s lack of a second quality spinner could be a major disadvantage.
India vs Pakistan: Who Has the Edge?
Prediction: India 80-20 Favorites
- India holds a clear advantage based on current form, squad depth, and recent performances.
- Pakistan will need a near-perfect game to pull off an upset.
- The unpredictability of the rivalry, however, always keeps fans on the edge.
Can Pakistan recreate their 2017 Champions Trophy magic, or will India continue their dominance? Only time will tell, but the battle is set to enthrall cricket fans once again!
