India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025: Match Preview, Squads, and Key Battles | Match Details

India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025: Cricket’s fiercest rivals are set to clash in a pivotal battle that could shape their ICC Champions Trophy aspirations.In the world of cricket, few matchups evoke as much passion and anticipation as an India-Pakistan encounter.

Dating back to 1952, this rivalry has not only stood the test of time but has also evolved, capturing the imagination of fans worldwide. These South Asian nations find another gear when they meet, making each contest a spectacle.

Recent Encounters and Current Stakes

The anticipation for this encounter has reached fever pitch, especially since their last 50-over meeting was in 2023 at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where India secured a seven-wicket victory. The two sides also faced off at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with India edging out Pakistan by just six runs.

For Pakistan, the stakes couldn’t be higher. After a comprehensive defeat to New Zealand in their tournament opener, the defending champions find themselves in a must-win situation to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Conversely, India aims to build on their momentum following a convincing win against Bangladesh.

Pakistan vs India Squads Overview

Pakistan	India
Mohammad Rizwan (c)	Rohit Sharma (c)
Babar Azam	Shubman Gill
Imam-ul-Haq	Virat Kohli
Saud Shakeel	Shreyas Iyer
Tayyab Tahir	KL Rahul
Faheem Ashraf	Rishabh Pant
Khushdil Shah	Hardik Pandya
Salman Ali Agha	Axar Patel
Usman Khan	Washington Sundar
Abrar Ahmed	Kuldeep Yadav
Haris Rauf	Harshit Rana
Mohammad Hasnain	Mohammed Shami
Naseem Shah	Arshdeep Singh
Shaheen Shah Afridi	Ravindra Jadeja
—-	Varun Chakaravarthy

Pakistan vs India Match Details

Match	PAK vs IND, 5th Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Date	Sunday, February 23, 2025
Time	2:30 PM (Local Time)
Venue	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Umpires	Paul Reiffel, Richard Illingworth
Third Umpire	Michael Gough
Match Referee	David Boon
PAK Playing	Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
IND Playing	Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav
Match Result

India and Pakistan Recent Form Analysis

Pakistan: The hosts’ recent ODI form appears match-up-dependent. They’ve faced challenges against New Zealand, suffering multiple defeats, including a loss in the tournament opener. However, they showcased resilience by defeating South Africa in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, following a 3-0 ODI series sweep against the Proteas in December last year.

India: India boasts an impressive record, with eight wins from nine white-ball matches this calendar year, remaining unbeaten in four ODIs. They dominated England 3-0 leading into the Champions Trophy and comfortably handled Bangladesh in their opening match. Despite the absence of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah due to a back injury, the team has demonstrated depth and adaptability.

Pakistan vs India: Key Player Battles to Watch

1. Shubman Gill vs Shaheen Afridi
   • Context: Shubman Gill, currently the ICC Men’s top-ranked ODI batter, has been in scintillating form. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s premier left-arm pacer, will be tasked with curbing Gill’s run-scoring spree.
   • Insight: Gill has amassed 2,639 runs in 48 ODI innings since 2022, averaging 65.97 with a strike rate of 101.65. Afridi’s ability to swing the new ball makes this an intriguing contest.
2. Virat Kohli vs Abrar Ahmed
   • Context: Virat Kohli’s recent struggles against leg-spin are well-documented. Abrar Ahmed, with his mystery spin, could pose significant challenges.
   • Insight: Kohli has been dismissed five times by leg-spinners in his last five ODI innings, scoring only 21 runs against them. Ahmed’s variations might test Kohli’s technique and patience.
3. Mohammed Shami vs Babar Azam
   • Context: Mohammed Shami’s prowess with the new ball is pivotal for India. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s batting mainstay, will look to anchor the innings.
   • Insight: Shami recently became the fastest Indian to 200 ODI wickets, showcasing his wicket-taking ability. Babar’s form and approach, especially his strike rate, will be under scrutiny.

Champions Trophy 2025: How & Where to Watch

India: JioStar (Live streaming on Jio Hotstar, Television coverage on Star and Network 18 channels)

Pakistan: PTV and Ten Sports, Streaming options: Myco and Tamasha app

UAE and MENA: CricLife Max and CricLife Max2, Streaming option: STARZPLAY

UK: Live broadcasting on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action, Digital coverage via SkyGO, NOW, and Sky Sports App

USA and Canada: WillowTV, Streaming on Willow by Cricbuzz app (Hindi coverage available)

Caribbean: ESPNCaribbean on TV, Streaming via ESPN Play Caribbean app

Australia: PrimeVideo (coverage available in Hindi too)

New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ, digital coverage via Now and SkyGo app.

South Africa and sub-Saharan territories: SuperSport and SuperSport App

Bangladesh: Nagorik TV and T Sports for linear broadcast, digital via Toffee app

Afghanistan: ATN

Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV (TV1 on Linear), Digital via Sirasa

The games can also be viewed on ICC.tv (in select territories).

Also Read: IND vs PAK: Star Pakistani Batter Babar Azam is doubtful for the 2025 Champions Trophy clash against India!! What do the reports say?