The Champions Trophy is heating up, and the stage is set for the blockbuster rivalry between India and Pakistan to resume. Both teams will square off at the Dubai International Stadium in a Group A encounter on Sunday. It will all eventually boil down to how the teams maintain their composure under pressure, and whichever team holds onto its cool will come out on top.
*Pakistan’s Challenges and Opportunities*
Heading into the contest, Mohammad Rizwan and co are definitely feeling the heat, having lost the tournament opener in Karachi against New Zealand. Star batter Babar Azam is coping with severe criticism for his slow 64-run knock off 90 balls when Pakistan was set a target of 321. However, Babar Azam has the perfect stage to show his class. Coming up against Virat Kohli might just be the perfect fuel for the right-hander to show he belongs in the big league.
Pakistan has forever been an unpredictable side, known to start off tournaments slowly. Mohammad Rizwan’s side needs to win against India to stay alive in the tournament. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf need to join the party for Pakistan if they want to progress to the semi-finals. Shaheen has previously created problems for Rohit and Virat Kohli up top, and he will once again be the go-to guy for Pakistan.
Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament, and Imam-ul-Haq has been named as his replacement. Pakistan has been criticized for a lack of intent up top, and this is the major weakness heading into the contest against India. The pressure is firmly on Babar Azam, and it needs to be seen whether he changes his approach up top or not.
The middle-order of Salman Ali Agha and Khushil Shah played impressive knocks against New Zealand, and this is the one major positive that Pakistan will take from their previous match.
*India’s Strengths and Concerns*
India is entering the contest with confidence as Rohit Sharma and company defeated Bangladesh by six wickets and 21 balls to spare. However, India would know not to take Pakistan lightly, as the latter has defeated them twice in Dubai—T20 World Cup 2021 and 2022 Asia Cup.
Rohit Sharma and co displayed a clinical performance against Bangladesh. Mohammed Shami got the much-needed time in the middle and returned with five wickets. The spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav also bowled economically. However, the lack of wickets in the middle overs will be a cause of concern for India. Harshit Rana was picked ahead of Arshdeep Singh and took three wickets, so he is likely to maintain his spot.
The biggest cause of concern is Virat Kohli’s form. The batter has been repeatedly getting out to spin, with left-arm spin emerging as his big nemesis. However, Virat is a proven performer against Pakistan. On the eve of the contest, the right-hander trained for more hours than the rest of the team. Virat Kohli’s form is the final piece that needs to come together if India is to go all the way in the tournament. Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul are all in form, and if the former India captain comes good, nothing can stop India.
*Players to Watch Out For*
*Pakistan:*
– *Shaheen Shah Afridi:* Shaheen was below par against New Zealand, but he has a knack for taking wickets with the new ball. His early spell will be key for Pakistan if they are to have any chance of winning against India.
– *Salman Ali Agha:* The vice-captain is an aggressive batter in the middle order and can give the much-needed impetus in the middle.
*India:*
– *Shubman Gill:* Gill recently notched up his 8th ODI ton and will look to carry on with his form.
– *Mohammed Shami:* Shami is the man when it comes to ICC tournaments. He took five wickets against Bangladesh and will look to continue his form against Pakistan.
As the highly anticipated clash approaches, fans eagerly await to see which team will emerge victorious in this electrifying encounter. The India vs Pakistan match promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with both teams vying for victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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