India vs Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025 Highlights: Virat Kohli's unbeaten ton powers India to six-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai

First change in bowling for Team India. Rohit Sharma throws the ball towards Hardik Pandya. A loud cheer from the crowd. Can he get a breakthrough here? India are looking for first wicket now.

The game has momentarily paused as Mohammad Shami has indicated towards the dressing room.

The medical staff has arrived on the field to assess his condition, as Shami appears to be experiencing some physical discomfort.

His bowling speed has noticeably reduced, hovering between the late 120s kph and early 130s.

Five wides by Mohammad Shami in the first over is the most in the first over of an innings in Champions Trophy behind seven by Tinashe Panyangara against England in Birmingham in 2004.

Finally, after 22 deliveries, Babar Azam executes his signature cover drive!

Harshit Rana bowls a fuller-length ball outside off stump. Babar Azam leans forward and gracefully guides the ball past the short cover fielder. Elegant shot from the right hander.

8 runs off Harshit Rana's over.

PAKISTAN 22/0 in 4 overs vs INDIA

FOUR! First boundary for Pakistan and this comes off Babar Azam's willow. A brilliant use of the wrist. The right-hander flicks the ball between mid-wicket and mid-on for a superb boundary. Excellent placement from the experienced batter.

PAKISTAN 18/0 in 3.4 overs vs INDIA

What an over from Shami. He didn't give much chance to Imam-ul-Haq to find a fence. 3 overs gone and Pakistan are yet to hit a boundary. Shami is using all his experience here. 4 runs off Shami's over.

PAKISTAN 14/0 in 3 overs vs INDIA

Harshit Rana to Babar Azam. Babar plays this nicely towards deep midwicket region. He takes a single and then runs for another one. Superb running between the wickets from the two batters. 4 runs off Harshit's over.

PAKISTAN 10/0 in 2 overs vs INDIA

A rusty start this from Shami. Finally a 11-ball over ends. Shami bowled five wide balls in the over. 0 Wd 0 Wd Wd 0 1 0 Wd Wd 0 - that's how his over read. Rohit didn't look happy with this. Pakistan won't mind this.

PAKISTAN 6/0 in 1 over vs INDIA

For long, India vs Pakistan matches have been considered to be an even battle between Indian batters and Pakistani fast bowlers; but that contest has lost its competitive edge in recent years even as the two teams once again draw battle lines -- this time in Dubai for the Group A fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy.

India's batting line-up has lately gained the upper hand against Pakistan's depleting reserve of quality bowlers, and former batter Basit Ali believes that has put a scare in the mind of Pakistan fans.

'India ki batting aur unke young spinners ne daraya hua hai sabko. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja. Yeh aath number tak baari jo hai na isne daraya hua hai Pakistan ki awaam ko (Indian batters and their young spinners are intimidating; their batting till No. 8 scares Pakistan fans)," said Basit in a video on his YouTube channel.

He said, in comparison to that, the Pakistan players appear no match for the Indian team.

"Pakistan has what? Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf (among pacers). If we talk about batting, who all are there? Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, who batted so well in the last match. The whole world is saying he batted slow. (Played) ODI like a Test match," he added, talking sarcastically about Babar's 90-ball 64 in the defeat against New Zealand.

"Mohammad Rizwan was in good form but had a bad game (against New Zealand). Salman Agha played well. Who else will you name? Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah...cricket-wise there is no comparison. Upset can happen, if it turns out to be a low-scoring match."

Pakistan are in a must-win situation having lost their Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand. If they lose to India today, their chances of qualifying for the semis will only be mathematically alive and depend on other results in the group as well.

Basit said if Pakistan manage to put it across India, it will be an upset win because India are the overwhelming favourites.

"Pakistan batters can play with a run-rate of 4-5, but can't score at 8 runs an over, not in Dubai. That's my opinion. They need to do something different," said Basit.

"Only if Pakistan do something different can they upset India. If they play in the same routine, then it will be ta-ta, bye bye.

"It's an opportunity to become a hero in one day."

Babar and Imam average 63.74 as a pair in ODIs - the highest among all Pakistan pairs with at least 1000 partnership runs, all coming for the second wicket.

However, their last seven partnerships read: 16, 4, 39, 19, 32, 20, & 18.

Wow! What a save from KL Rahul. Too wide and down the leg from Shami. KL Rahul dives to his right and stops the ball. He has saved 5 wides. Superb work from the keeper behind the wickets.

Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam are making their way to the middle. Team India has formed a huddle. Rohit is giving a last-minute pep talk to his boys. What an atmosphere in Dubai.

Mohammed Shami will open the attack for India.

Umpire says 'let's play'. Here we go ... !!!

India have now lost 12 tosses in a row starting from the finals of WC 2023 - the LONGEST sequence for a team in ODIs.

Previous longest: Netherlands (11 tosses between Mar 2011 and Aug 2013)

Both the teams - India and Pakistan - are making their way to the middle for the national anthems.

Electric atmosphere at the Dubai International Stadium.

India first, and then Pakistan.

India (Playing XI):

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav

Pakistan (Playing XI):

Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/captain), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

TOSS:

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan wins the toss, opts to bat vs India in Dubai.

TimesofIndia.com's SAHIL MALHOTRA is on the ground in Dubai, providing exclusive coverage of the much-anticipated showdown.

India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will be watching from the stands as Rohit Sharma's side faces Pakistan in a high-stakes Champions Trophy showdown at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Bumrah, who was initially named in the squad, had to be replaced after failing to recover from the back injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Bumrah's absence is a significant blow to India's bowling attack, as his lethal yorkers and death-over expertise have often troubled teams. His replacement, young pacer Harshit Rana, has stepped into the squad, but India will miss their most reliable fast bowler in this crucial fixture.

Pakistan, meanwhile, are under immense pressure after suffering a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their opening match. Mohammad Rizwan's side now faces a must-win scenario against their biggest rivals to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Despite Bumrah's absence, India's bowling unit led by Mohammed Shami has been effective, with Shami picking up a five-wicket haul in the win against Bangladesh. Vice-captain Shubman Gill, who scored a century in that match, stressed the importance of staying focused.

“Pakistan have a good side, and it's important for us to bring our A-game,” Gill said in the pre-match press conference.

With a packed 25,000-capacity stadium and millions watching worldwide, the stage is set for another intense India-Pakistan battle. While India aim to inch closer to the semi-finals, Pakistan will hope to rise to the occasion and pull off an upset.

A loud cheer erupts from the Dubai International Stadium as Virat Kohli, dressed in his white and black outfit, strides onto the field for the warm-up session.

Kohli joins his teammates and begins stretching.

India's record against Pakistan in ODI World Cups is overwhelming, but it's Pakistan who have the upper hand when it comes to the Champions Trophy that has returned to the international calendar for the first time since 2017.

The rivalry resumes on Sunday, when the two Group A teams meet at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for their second match of the tournament.

Pakistan will be under pressure having lost the tournament opener against New Zealand, while India registered an impressive six-wicket win over the fourth team in the group, Bangladesh.

Quite evidently Pakistan weren't at the top of their game against the Kiwis and have been dealt a blow in the form of Fakhar Zaman being ruled out because of an injury.

But their better show against India historically in the Champions Trophy will give them some statistical hope, while they hope to excel with both bat and ball on the field.

As opposed to India's 8-0 unbeaten record against the archrivals in ODI World Cups, Pakistan lead the head to head in Champions Trophy 3-2.

It includes Pakistan's win in the final of the 2017 edition, when Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted the trophy as the skipper.

While on current form, India appear the favourites to win on Sunday, the unpredictable nature of the Pakistan team always remains a threat.

India vs Pakistan in Champions Trophy

2004: Pakistan won by 3 wickets
2009: Pakistan won by 54 runs
2013: India won by 8 wickets
2017: India won by 124 runs (DLS)
2017 (final): Pakistan won by 180 runs

In Group A's current standings, New Zealand lead the table with two points and hold the top position due to their superior net run-rate (NRR) of +1.200. India occupies the second spot, also with two points but a lower NRR of +0.408.

In the bottom half of the group, Bangladesh sit at third position and Pakistan last. Both have zero points, but Bangladesh's NRR of -0.408 puts them ahead of Pakistan who have an NRR of -1.200.

Former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has issued a warning to the Pakistan bowlers, saying that a Virat Kohli special is around the corner and it might come in the blockbuster Champions Trophy clash on Sunday.

"Virat Kohli played a good knock against England in tough conditions (52 in third ODI at Ahmedabad). When you are short of runs and you come up with such an innings, then your feet (movement), body language, all those things fall in place and help, which will be very good from Virat's point of view," Shehzad said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Famously called the 'chase-master' in white-ball cricket, Kohli hasn't lately enjoyed the kind of success that made him a batting legend.

Since 2024, Kohli has appeared in 6 ODIs, scoring just 137 runs with a highest of 52 and average of 22.83. However, he ended 2023 with a bang, scoring 765 runs in 11 matches of the 50-over World Cup at home.

"He is such a player who plays a magical innings in a big match. Remember how he snatched the match out of Pakistan's jaws," Shehzad said, pointing towards Kohli's 82 not out in the 2022 T20 World Cup when he took Haris Rauf to the cleaners.

However, Shehzad added that India's top four must play out 35-40 overs in Sunday's match in Dubai to not expose their three allrounders -- Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja -- early.

"It (having all-rounders in the eleven) can work for you in T20Is, like Rohit Sharma says it adds depth to the line-up. But the captain would know that if you lose early wickets in ODIs, you have to plan your innings; to reach the desired target, you need proper batters. That game-awareness the all-rounders may not have," Shehzad analysed.

After their defeat to New Zealand in the opening match, Pakistan's match against India becomes crucial to their semifinal chances. Meanwhile, India enter this contest with confidence following their dominant six-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

The two highest-placed teams from both groups advance to the semifinal stage of the Champions Trophy.

It's the AustralAsia Cup final and India pacer Chetan Sharma is asked to defend 10 off the last over against Javed Miandad. With four to get off the last ball, Sharma tries to bowl a yorker, but it ends up being a full toss which Miandad, standing deep in the crease, connects beautifully. The ball vanishes into the stands.

March 13, 2004, Karachi: The first match of the five-match ODI series and the beginning of India's long tour to Pakistan. This time, Ashish Nehra has to defend nine off the last over against super-finisher Moin Khan. Miandad, now the coach, issues instructions from the pavilion. Nehra, after landing yorker after yorker, has six to play around with off the last ball. Moin fails to connect a full toss and the catch is taken at extra cover. India win.

This is a tale of two full tosses, 18 years apart, that changed the trajectory of the India-Pakistan ODI rivalry. While the first kick-started a Pakistan stranglehold over India spanning a decade and a half, Nehra's delivery sparked off a momentum shift for the Men in Blue which continues to this day. Of the 71 ODIs that India played against Pakistan from Sharjah 1986 to Karachi 2004, Pakistan won 45 and India a mere 23, with three no-results. Post 2004 Karachi, India have had the better of the exchanges, leading the head-to-head 24-19, with one without a result.

Let's go back to Sharjah first. India had beaten Pakistan in the Benson and Hedges Cup final a year before and then had defended 125 against the arch-rivals at the same venue. They had been having the better of exchanges and even in the Australasia Cup final, Kapil's boys were pretty much in control after posting 245/7 off 50 overs.

"Pakistan were struggling and it was Javed who had kept them alive. There was a bit of a miscalculation on our part and Chetan had to bowl the last over," Krishnamachari Srikkanth, one of India's openers in that game, told TOI.

Miandad himself remembers in one interview how he got deep into the crease anticipating a yorker. "It's a matter of inches and the moment Sharma got it wrong, it was my game," Miandad said. That win gave Pakistan huge confidence that India, the reigning world champions, could be defeated, and they had the psychological edge after that.

"True, they became more confident and won a lot of close matches after that, but let's not forget they had a brilliant pace attack that was coming through the ranks," said Srikkanth, who led India in Pakistan in the 1989 series.

"But we kept giving them good fights and beat them in the 1992 World Cup (which Pakistan ultimately won)," Srikkath said. India won in 1996 as well in Bangalore, but the defeats in between were painful.

But then, 2004 Karachi happened. Both Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were retired by then, but India had gone in with an inexperienced pace attack. They had lost the first practice game against Pakistan A too. "Before the first match, captain Sourav Ganguly told us that this is the series that will make or break our careers," L Balaji, who was one of the breakout stars of that series, told TOI.

As Moin struggled to find that one big shot, coach Miandad was going crazy in the pavilion. "Ashish being Ashish, he was probably seeing Javed bhai and deciding what to bowl. He was just outstanding. The moment we won, all those demons of losing through the 90s disappeared," Balaji said.

As the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 approaches on Sunday, former cricketer and Trinamool MP Kirti Azad weighed in on the much-awaited encounter, emphasising that the team performing better on the day will emerge victorious.

India is set to face arch-rivals and tournament hosts Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in what promises to be a high-stakes battle. While Pakistan will fight to keep their title defense alive, India will look to inch closer to securing a semi-final berth.

Sharing his thoughts on the clash, Kirti Azad told ANI, "It is like a normal match... On the cricket field, you play the ball and not the bowler... People are always very excited about the match. The team that plays well will win. The Indian team is very balanced... Pakistan team can surprise you anytime... I wish Team India all the best..."

Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad also extended his best wishes to Team India, highlighting the country’s sporting legacy. "The players of our country have a glorious history. The players of the country have worked to increase the honor of the country in the world. I hope India will win... Our best wishes from the Samajwadi Party. Our country's team will win..." he said.

The last time these two teams met in a Champions Trophy match was the 2017 final, where Pakistan stunned Virat Kohli's star-studded Indian side. In a dominant performance, Pakistan posted 338 runs, with Fakhar Zaman scoring a century, before bundling India out for just 158. That crushing defeat still lingers in the memories of Indian players and fans, who would love to see their team take revenge with a commanding performance this time around.

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, dating back to 1952, remains one of the most intense in the sport, evolving with each encounter. These two South Asian giants always find another gear when they face off on the field.

Anticipation for this match has reached fever pitch, especially considering that their last 50-over encounter was at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where India secured a convincing seven-wicket victory. They also met at last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where India edged past Pakistan by just six runs.

For Pakistan, this match is a do-or-die situation. After a crushing defeat to New Zealand in their opening game, they must win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Without the explosive Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order, their batting lineup appears more fragile than ever, raising concerns about their ability to counter India's well-balanced squad.

Excitement is reaching a crescendo as the much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown in the ICC Champions Trophy draws closer. Set for Sunday in Dubai, this fierce rivalry promises an electrifying spectacle, with cricket fans eagerly awaiting the high-stakes encounter.

Sunday’s clash is particularly significant, as the two teams last met in a 50-over contest during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where India secured a commanding seven-wicket victory. Their most recent ICC battle was in last year’s T20 World Cup, where India edged past Pakistan by just six runs, adding another chapter to their intense cricketing history.

Former Ranji cricketer Ajay Yadav emphasized the gravity of the match, calling it one of the most eagerly awaited spectacles in cricket. “India have the upper hand, but Pakistan’s revamped squad poses a tough challenge. With stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, alongside all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, India’s firepower is immense. Meanwhile, bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana have the ability to turn the game in an instant. It’s set to be an electrifying contest.”

A cricket enthusiast from Varanasi echoed the excitement, calling the match a high-voltage affair. “Pakistan have struggled against India in major ICC encounters, and this time will be no different. Our batting lineup is solid, and with a slight boost in our bowling attack, victory is well within India’s grasp.”

Following Shubman Gill’s unbeaten century and Mohammed Shami’s remarkable 5/53 in India’s six-wicket triumph over Bangladesh in their campaign opener, young fans and aspiring cricketers are eagerly awaiting another dominant performance. Many hope to see Rohit and Virat rise to the occasion, with both stars potentially scoring centuries against Pakistan.

Dating back to 1952, the India-Pakistan rivalry has stood the test of time, continuing to evolve with each encounter. As the teams prepare to face off at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday at 2:30 PM, the cricketing world braces for yet another thrilling chapter in this legendary battle.

Expressing surprise over the downfall of Pakistan cricket, former India off-spinner said that there is no comparison between the current Pakistan team and the ones that played till 2011-12.

The archrivals are set to renew their rivalry in Dubai on Sunday when they meet in a group-stage fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy.

In the build-up to the big game, Harbhajan featured as a guest on a Pakistan news channel, alongside Pakistan legends Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi.

Harbhajan said the lack of unity in the current Pakistan squad is disappointing.

Former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has issued a warning to the Pakistan bowlers, saying that a Virat Kohli special is around the corner and it might come in the blockbuster Champions Trophy clash on Sunday.

"Virat Kohli played a good knock against England in tough conditions (52 in third ODI at Ahmedabad). When you are short of runs and you come up with such an innings, then your feet (movement), body language, all those things fall in place and help, which will be very good from Virat's point of view," Shehzad said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Famously called the 'chase-master' in white-ball cricket, Kohli hasn't lately enjoyed the kind of success that made him a batting legend.

As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 gains momentum after the first round of matches, off-field controversies and administrative blunders have taken center stage.

From anthem mix-ups to broadcast issues and flag controversies, the tournament has been overshadowed by multiple embarrassing incidents.

While on-field battles continue, the tournament's credibility has taken a hit due to repeated administrative lapses. Organisers now face the challenge of ensuring a smoother run for the remaining matches to shift the focus back to the game.

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam was conspicuously absent from the team's training session ahead of their high-stakes Champions Trophy clash against India on Sunday, fueling speculation about his availability for the crucial encounter. Even as doubts lingered over Azam's participation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi delivered a clear directive to the team — win “at any cost.”

Azam, who faced heavy criticism for his sluggish 90-ball 64 in Pakistan's 60-run loss to New Zealand, was the only player missing from Saturday evening's practice session. His absence raised questions, especially with PCB chief Naqvi in attendance. Interim head coach Aaqib Javed, addressing the media post-session, downplayed concerns, stating that Azam had chosen to rest.

Naqvi's presence at the Dubai International Stadium underscored the immense pressure on Pakistan. With their tournament hopes hanging by a thread, he urged the team to give their all against arch-rivals India. PTI reported citing reliable sources that Naqvi told the players to silence their critics — himself included — with a victory.

Josh Inglis smashed a sensational unbeaten 120 off 86 balls as Australia pulled off the highest run chase in Champions Trophy history, defeating England by five wickets in Lahore on Saturday.

Chasing 352, Australia were reeling at 27/2 after early blows from Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, but Inglis turned the game on its head with a blistering knock, featuring six sixes and eight boundaries. His winning shot, a towering six off Wood, sealed victory in 47.3 overs.

All eyes now turn to Sunday’s blockbuster between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. The highly anticipated clash is the biggest fixture of the tournament so far, with a sell-out 25,000-strong crowd expected and millions more tuning in worldwide.

Eight months after India pipped Pakistan in a thrilling, low-scoring group match of the T20 World Cup on a difficult pitch in New York, cricket's most storied but, of late more of over-hyped rivalry will present its latest installment when a red-hot India, eyeing a semifinal berth, play Pakistan, struggling for survival in their first ICC tournament as hosts in 29 years, on Sunday night at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in game five of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Boosted by premier pacer Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul and a brilliant century (101 not out) by classy opener Shubman Gill-enjoying a purple patch in ODIs- India vanquished Bangladesh by six wickets in their lung-opener on Thursday.

With Shami roaring back into form, the young Harshit Rana having impressed so far, and India's three-pronged spin attack, which conceded just 123 runs in 29 overs looking effective on this slow pitch which didn't seem to be too conducive for stroke-making, India's attack looks fairly decent and good enough for the job even without the talismanic Jasprit Bumrah. Left-arm spinner Axar Patil was unlucky to have missed out on the first hat-trick in the Champions Trophy since 2006, and while Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav went wicketless, they were economical.

However, India's biggest USP at the moment seems to be Gill, currently the No 1 rated batsman in the ODIs. The Indian vice-captain has shrugged off his struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the fast and bouncy pitches in Australia and looked in prime form.

While Gill is yet to prove his mettle in Test cricket-his average after 32 Tests is a mere 35.05, in the ODIs, his numbers, as Indian captain Rohit Sharma said before the Bangladesh game, are "crazy"-2688 runs in 51 matches@62.51, with eight hundreds and 15 fifties. Gill's scores in his last four ODIs are -87, 60, 112 & 101*. At the moment, Gill, whether he is dancing down the track to hit he bowlers inside out or flick and pulling them through the square leg, is finding the sweet spot of the bat and only seeing the gaps on the field. The two sixes that he smashed to mid-wicket off Tanzim Hasan Sakib on Thursday night will remain etched in the memory for long.

India will also be encouraged by the way 'keeper-bat KL Rahul chipped in with a useful 41 not out to help Gill finish off the chase against Bangladesh.

Kohli puts in extra hours to counter spin threat

On Saturday, India's superstar bat Virat Kohli, in a bid to sort out his issues against spin, arrived three hours before the scheduled practice time at the ICC Cricket Academy, along with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. He practiced against the top 20 bowlers of UAE-left-arm spinners and leg-spinners.

With Indian captain Rohit Sharma showing glimpses of his vintage form in his 36-ball 41, India's sole worry will be the scratchy form of Kohli, who, after scoring 22 in the last match, succumbed to a leg-spinner for the third time in a row when he cut a Rishad Hossain delivery to backward point-twice in the ODI series against England at home, he succumbed to Rashid Khan.

Perhaps, playing against Pakistan, against whom he enjoys a tremendous record-678 runs in 16 ODIs @52.15, with three hundreds and a highest score of 183 at Dhaka in 2012, will bring the best out of the former India captain. Pakistan leggie Abrar Ahmed, and even left-armer Khushdil Shah and off-spinner Salman Agha will fancy their chances against the ageing superstar.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, who trained under lights at the ICC Academy here after arriving on Friday for this big-ticket clash, are already staring at the embarrassment of an early exit from the tournament after going down to an efficient New Zealand by 60 runs losing their opening match, outplayed as they were in all the departments at the National Stadium in Karachi. Perennial slow starters, their woes have been worsened after explosive opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the event on Wednesday.

Fakhar's enforced ouster has deprived the team of its second first-choice opener following the untimely injury to Saim Ayub in Australia. Eight years ago, at The Oval on June 17, it was Fakhar who played a stellar role in Pakistan's sensational 180-run victory over India in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy in England.

The man to have replaced Fakhar is another left-handed opener in Imam-ul-Haq, but unlike Fakhar, he isn't someone who can destroy a bowling attack. Another worry for Pakistan the strike rate these days of former captain Babar Azam, who took 90 balls to score 64 against the Kiwis the other day.

Apart from current form, history too is stacked heavily against Pakistan, and in favour of India here. At ICC events, spanning both the white-ball formats, India own a 17-4 record against their arch-rivals, which means that they enter Sunday's contest as the overwhelming favourites. In the past two weeks, Pakistan have lost three ODIs to New Zealand at home. However, Mohammad Rizwan & Co can draw confidence from the fact that three out of Pakistan's four victories over India at ICC tournaments have come at the Champions Trophy, including the final in 2017. At the moment, though, the defending champions face the prospect of being eliminated from the tournament.

With their backs to the wall, facing an in-form India in a must-win league game, Pakistan are drawing inspiration from two favourable results they have had against India at the DICS in recent times. They had beaten India here in October 2021 and September 2022, albeit in T20Is.

"We have beaten India twice here in Dubai. We will aim to make it three and repeat those performances. We are confident, and it will be a great match," Pakistan pacer Harris Rauf said on Friday evening.

Underlining the magnitude of the big game against India and the need to forget about the Kiwi defeat, Rauf said "What's past is past. We are now focusing on the India game. We will address the mistakes we made in the previous game and try not to repeat them. For us, it's an important fixture; a do-or-die game. We need to win this to stand a chance of qualifying for the semifinals."

Rauf, who conceded 83-2 in 10 overs against New Zealand claimed that the morale of his side ahead of the must-win game was still upbeat. "The morale is not down; all the boys will try hard and give their best. It is an important fixture, and we will aim to perform well in all departments - batting, bowling, and fielding. There is no extra pressure; we are relaxed. We will treat it as just another match," he said.

While the form book favours India, Pakistan can be unpredictable and mercurial. It's pertinent to remember that Pakistan are at their most dangerous when they have their backs to the wall.

The 'hosts' will once again bank on their pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain- who can be terrific or erratic on a given day.

Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli are in the autumn of their careers but they have stellar records against Pakistan in ODIs & ICC events. Can they rise to the occasion one more time?

"We are different countries. We have different jerseys. But the game only knows the basics. You reap the rewards of hard work. It's the environment within the stadium that elevates your performance, and that's exactly the case when we play against Pakistan, more than any other team," says India great Virat Kohli - in a video released by the official broadcasters - while talking about the game against Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai.

Political correctness isn't Kohli's forte. He doesn't hide behind 'it's-just-another-game' platitudes. He loves the hype and the big-game pressure whenever India play Pakistan. His numbers against Pakistan prove it: 16 ODIs, 678 runs, avg 52.15, strike-rate 100.29.

Intensity? 10,000 units. Examples? Mirpur (2012), Adelaide (2015), Colombo (2023), Birmingham (2017). Clutch checklist? 23-10-22, T20 World Cup, Melbourne. Making the impossible possible? Over 18.5. THAT shot against Haris Rauf. T20 WC performance vs Pak? 6 matches, 312 runs, avg 156, strike-rate 132.

Don't watch the stroke for its remarkable execution. Don't track the trajectory of the ball after its appointment with the middle of Kohli's willow. Zoom into the batter's eyes. Hear his heart pound.

But before every act of heroism, there is misplaced early bravado. Pakistan were Kohli's first opponents in ICC events at Centurion in the 2009 Champions Trophy. And his inside-out shot against Shahid Afridi, which landed in the juggling palms of Umar Gul at long off, still haunts him since it derailed India's chase. He vowed to become a 'chasemaster' after that, ticking that bucket list innumerable times.


However, two of India's three defeats to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy have come in Kohli's era. The last one was in 2017, a humiliating 180-run mauling in the final at the Oval when Kohli was captain. India were favourites but imploded against a freakish Fakhar Zaman, who scored a century, and an inspired opening burst with the ball from Mohammed Amir.

Conspiracy theorists also attributed the loss to a revolt against the coach. It was also under Kohli's leadership that Pakistan broke their winless streak in World Cups against India, winning by 10 wickets in Dubai in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Kohli would want to set some records straight here. He also has some self-doubt to slay after his troubles in red-ball cricket and all the trolling he has endured.

Clouds of apprehension have also circled around skipper Rohit Sharma's head. With his famed hand-eye coordination showing signs of slackening, the ability to judge length early has also vaporized. It has resulted in his form in Tests showing an alarming dip, triggering tame dismissals at home and in Australia.

The red flag is up for him, especially in the longest format. But his form in white-ball cricket has been excellent. Ever since he adopted and communicated the need to embrace a high-risk, high-reward strategy in the Powerplay, Rohit has helped in giving the team a massive launchpad to go big while batting first. In pursuit of targets, he has managed to break the back of big chases and make the equation easier for the rest of the batters.

Rohit has a fabulous record against Pakistan. In 19 matches, he has scored 873 runs, averaging 51.35 with two tons and eight half-centuries.

The last time the two teams met in 50-overs cricket, in Dubai, he was leading in the 2018 Asia Cup and stroked an unbeaten 111. His 140 in Manchester on a gloomy Sunday in the 2019 World Cup was a masterclass in taking the game on. The slashed six off Hasan Ali over deep point evoked comparisons with the great Sachin Tendulkar's storied upper cut off Shoaib Akhtar in Centurion in 2003.

Rohit also belted a 63-ball 86 that demoralized the men-in-green in 2023 in Ahmedabad, putting on a tutorial in how to pull high-pace deliveries into the galleries.

But he has fallen victim to left arm pace and the ball swinging in from over the wicket. Shaheen Shah Afridi got him LBW with a deadly yorker in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Mohammed Amir did the same in the 2016 Asia Cup in Mirpur and the 2017 Champions Trophy final at the Oval.

The Cuttack hundred against England has enabled Rohit to keep the doubters away for a while. Another attacking and authoritative knock against Mohammed Rizwan and Co. could help him increase that distance.

'RoKo' as a hashtag is popular but superficial and an attempt to hyphenate the careers and achievements of the two Indian batting superstars. A combined effort from the two veterans, though, may not just help India win another global trophy, but it may also enable toxic fans of Rohit and Kohli to co-exist respectfully and make the social media space more palatable.

A sizable crowd had gathered outside the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday when the Pakistan cricket team arrived for their first training session since landing in the city a day prior. Amid the chants of "Babar, Babar, King Babar, humara King Babar", the players rushed into the facility without even acknowledging the presence of the fans who were screaming their lungs out for autographs and selfies. The dash of players left many disappointed, and some were even in tears, but the team seemed focussed on the job at hand.

They had very little time to get used to the conditions in Dubai which are very different from what they are getting back home in Pakistan for the ongoing Champions Trophy. Since Saturday would be more about getting used to the ring of fire at the Dubai International Stadium, Friday's session was critical for the host nation to tick the crucial boxes before the big game. Just when the players finished their warm-up drills and headed to the change room to put on their respective gear, they were greeted by a familiar face.

Former Pakistan cricketer Mudassar Nazar got everyone in a circle of sorts and had a long chat before the players got down to business in the middle. Nazar is not just a former cricketer but someone who is familiar with the local conditions in Dubai. Having worked with the ICC Academy in Dubai and even as the interim coach of the UAE cricket team, including the U-19 batches for some tournaments, the former opener was the ideal man to be around the Pakistan players for what was going to be their only full-throttle session ahead of the India clash.

The 68-year-old, who has been Pakistan's coach and served the country's cricket board in various capacities, had plenty of one-on-one interactions with the players during their session under lights. While most of the batters were part of the group which patiently listened to the veteran, the bowlers received some pep talk after they were done with their batting sessions. Nazar has camped in Dubai for a very long time and his tenure even overlapped with current Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed who was in charge of UAE's team from 2012 to 2016.

Both Nazar and Javed are tactically very shrewd and aware of the conditions in this part of the world. It now remains to be seen whether the team can benefit from their inputs and stay alive in the multi-nation tournament. They have had success against India in Dubai and pacer Haris Rauf is confident that the side will improve the tally to three wins.

"We have beaten India twice here in Dubai. We will aim to make it three and repeat those performances. We are confident, and it will be a great match," said Harris Rauf ahead of the team's training session.

Pakistan lost their tournament opener versus New Zealand on February 19 but Rauf assured that the team will "address the mistakes" before the must-win clash vs India.

"What's past is past. We are now focusing on the India game. We will address the mistakes we made in the previous game and try not to repeat them. For us, it's an important fixture; a do-or-die game. We need to win this to stand a chance of qualifying for the semifinals," said Rauf.

After spending over three hours at the global cricket body's training facility, the players left their kit bags with the logistics team and had a quick bite before boarding the team bus. There were plenty still waiting for a glimpse of their heroes when they exited the venue in small batches and this time Babar Azam didn't disappoint them and patiently signed autographs, posed for selfies. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan followed suit before the entire team made their way to the team hotel.

India and Pakistan square off in the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday, with Rohit Sharma's squad hoping to secure a semifinal berth and Mohammad Rizwan's team desperately trying to avoid an early tournament exit. The match is hyped as a big match but is largely lopsided on the field.

India is feeling great after defeating a lively Bangladesh by six wickets, but Pakistan is clearly upset following their 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the tournament opener.

The 2017 final was the last time the sub-continental rivals faced each other in the Champion Trophy, as Pakistan won both the match and the trophy. Though they would need to improve in every area, Rizwan and company would try to find motivation in that victory in London.

There is a sense of quiet expectation for the Group A encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, even though the excitement around the match is far from what it was during the height of diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

In every way, India will have a clear advantage. The team has adapted well, and Pakistan arrived a few days ago following their crushing defeat at the hands of the Black Caps in Karachi.

An India-Pakistan match is typically as much a contest of nerves as cricket skills, and India would be in a far stronger position on both fronts come Sunday afternoon.

For starters, if the clear stroke-making against Bangladesh was any indication, captain Rohit, whose form was a big worry in the lead-up to the event, appears to be returning to his best.

His 41-run cameo was a vital part of the challenging 229-run chase, which Shubman Gill skillfully anchored with his ninth ODI century.

Pakistan, on the other hand, will be concerned with Babar Azam's form and strategy. In a pursuit of 320, his 90-ball 64 versus New Zealand has drawn harsh criticism for being too slow.

Azam would be under a lot of pressure against India because of his incapacity to accelerate even as the asking rate continued to rise.

Pakistan's problems are exacerbated by the injury that caused them to remove game-changing opener Fakhar Zaman from the team. He has been replaced in the team by Imam ul Haq, who has joined the squad.

On the plus side, meanwhile, is middle-order batter Khushdil Shah's counter-attacking 69 in the tournament opener. Given his recent poor performance, Shah has jokingly said he has no idea how he got the squad, but Pakistan would be pleased that the gamble has come off.

By defeating India, who declined to cross the border for the tournament, which is otherwise entirely planned in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, Pakistan would also be looking to make a statement.

Virat Kohli is again feeling the fire in the Indian team after failing to convert a respectable start once more. Although his focus hasn't been the same in a while, Kohli has a talent for coming up with unique ways to beat Pakistan.

But in the grand scheme of things, it can come down to pivotal moments from the bowlers, and Pakistan has a lot to think about in this regard as well following the hammering that the Shaheen Afridi-led attack took from the Kiwis.

However, Harshit Rana is providing excellent support for Mohammed Shami, who is back to full fitness and playing well for India. India did not miss injured talisman Jasprit Bumrah thanks to Shami's fifer against Bangladesh.


In key ICC events, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has consistently given it his all when facing Pakistan. He will be looking to avenge the disappointment of the 2017 Champions Trophy final, in which he battled valiantly for India but was unable to lead his team to victory.

India are probably going to stay the same and stick with their winning combination.

The spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel will be included once again on the tweaker-friendly surface to exploit the conditions.

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has dismissed Pakistan’s chances of defeating India in their crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Citing Pakistan’s recent struggles, including their tri-nation series loss and an underwhelming Test series against West Indies, Kaneria contrasted their form with India’s resurgence following their Border-Gavaskar Trophy setback. He pointed to India’s white-ball series win against England and the strong performances of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami.

"After the debacle in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, India defeated England in the white-ball series at home. They got their confidence back as Rohit and Virat scored runs, while Shami also returned to the team and silenced critics with his bowling, even taking a fifer against Bangladesh," Kaneria said.

Kaneria singled out India’s spin attack as a key challenge for Pakistan, particularly Babar Azam, who he believes struggles against left-arm spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. "India have better spinners, and Babar Azam struggles against left-arm spinners. How will he tackle Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel? On the other hand, Pakistan don’t have a good spinner, and we've seen Virat and other Indian batters struggle against leg-spin. This is a huge match, but Pakistan has no chance of winning on February 23," he remarked.

Babar’s approach in Pakistan’s opening game against New Zealand also came under scrutiny, with Kaneria criticising his intent while chasing 321. The Pakistan batter managed 64 off 90 balls, failing to keep up with the required run rate, while Khushdil Shah played a more aggressive 69 off 49 deliveries. "I’ve seen that when Babar thinks the match is out of reach, he focuses on scoring individual runs. He didn’t show intent, while Khushdil Shah did and played a good knock. Although we lost, his innings at least made the score look better. Babar can’t justify his approach," Kaneria said.

He further noted that Pakistan will struggle on the slow, dry pitches in Dubai, particularly against India's bowling attack, despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. "Shubman Gill scored a classical century. If you don’t have the intent, it’ll be very difficult (to win against India)," he added.

India, led by Rohit Sharma, registered a six-wicket win over Bangladesh and will look to continue their winning momentum against arch-rivals Pakistan to secure a semi-final berth.

India, under Rohit Sharma, began their Champions Trophy campaign strongly with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Wednesday. Defending champions Pakistan, the tournament hosts, however experienced a setback in their opening match, losing to New Zealand by 60 runs in Karachi.

Pakistan now face a must win situation to maintain their semis hopes alive while a victory for India would nearly guarantee their progression to the last four in the eight-team tournament.

India's last Champions Trophy meeting with Pakistan however ended in disappointment, as they lost the 2017 final at The Oval, missing the opportunity to claim their second tournament title.

India currently hold a psychological advantage, remaining undefeated against Pakistan in their last six ODI encounters since 2018, including a rain-affected group stage match in the 2023 Asia Cup.

The teams' most recent encounter was during the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage in New York. India emerged victorious with a nine-run win, with Jasprit Bumrah earning Player of the Match honors for his bowling figures of 3 for 14.

Here's all you need to know about the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy Group A game:

When will India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy Group A match be played?
The India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy Group A match will take place on Sunday, February 23.

Where will India vs Pakistan ODI be played?
The India vs Pakistan match will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

At what time will the India vs Pakistan ODI start?
The India vs Pakistan game will begin at 2:30 PM IST.

When will the toss for IND vs PAK ODI take place?
The toss for India vs Pakistan ODI will take place at 2:00 PM IST.

At what time will the India vs Pakistan ODI coverage start?
The coverage of India vs Pakistan ODI will begin from 1:30 PM IST.

Where to watch the IND vs PAK Champions Trophy ODI?

India (TV) India (live stream) USA
Star Sports Network JioHotstar app Fubo TV
At what time will the India vs Pakistan ODI start in Dubai?
The India vs Pakistan game will begin at 1 PM in Dubai.

Where to follow the IND vs PAK Champions Trophy ODI live online?
Follow all the action from the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy ODI on TimesofIndia.com.

Virat Kohli reached an hour before the rest of the Indian cricket team on Saturday, eve of the high-octane clash against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. The right-hander was joined by the batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and throw-down specialists Nuwan Seneviratne and D Raghvendra (Raghu).

By the time the rest of the team arrived and started their warmups, Kohli was done with first of his nets session.

About 15 minutes later, Kohli removed his batting gear and took a break in the dressing room with an ice pack on his left leg.

India were initially due to train from 1pm local time (2:30pm IST) with Kohli being the only exception to this, in order to arrest his poor form. More worryingly, Kohli has fallen in similar manner - playing with an open face of the bat.

Ex-Australia skipper Michael Clarke lauded Kohli's commitment to refining his form after a poor start to the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh (22 runs from 38 balls). However, former India player Sanjay Manjrekar believes the early arrival for the nets suggests he might be trying too hard.

"I think he is trying too hard. Coming 90 minutes earlier to practice is a sign. He can come two minutes before the match and get going. I think he is trying a bit too much," Manjrekar told broadcaster Star Sports.

Clarke backed the Indian batter, saying it's unwise to write Kohli off. He predicted that he could "flick a switch" on the big day vs Pakistan.

"I think Virat is one of those players who thrives in big tournaments. He hasn't been in the best of form, which is why he's training an hour and a half earlier. That's what great players do-when something doesn't feel right, they make time to correct it before stepping onto the field," Clarke told Star Sports.

"What I like about the Champions Trophy is that there's no time to ease into the tournament-you have to be at your best straight away. Virat is such a great player that he might just flick that switch. You might have watched him the other day and thought he wasn't at his best, but he steps up when India need him most. Don't be surprised if it happens against Pakistan on the big day," he added.