Synopsis
India faces Pakistan in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy match at Dubai International Stadium, following India's win over Bangladesh and Pakistan's loss to New Zealand. This battle is vital for both teams, especially for defending champions Pakistan, as they vie for a semi-final spot.Key Takeaways
- India won their opening match against Bangladesh.
- Pakistan is under pressure after losing to New Zealand.
- The match is critical for Pakistan to stay in the tournament.
- India has a strong psychological edge, remaining unbeaten in the last six ODIs against Pakistan.
- Broadcast on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on JioHotstar.
New Delhi, Feb 22 (NationPress) India is set to clash with their long-time rivals Pakistan in a highly awaited match of the ICC Champions Trophy at Dubai International Stadium this Sunday.
The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team kicked off their tournament with a convincing six-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Wednesday. Conversely, the hosts Pakistan faced a challenging 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the tournament opener held in Karachi earlier this week.
This match is crucial for defending champions Pakistan to maintain their chances for a semi-final spot in Group A, while a win for India would nearly assure them a place in the last four of this eight-team affair.
In their previous ODI encounter during the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, India secured a dominant seven-wicket victory, with captain Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer both contributing half-centuries to ensure their winning streak.
Jasprit Bumrah, who made a comeback to international cricket just before the World Cup after a long injury break, along with Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya, effectively supported their captain's decision to bowl first. They each took two wickets, dismissing the visitors for a mere 191 runs. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja also combined for four wickets.
However, India suffered a setback in their last encounter against Pakistan during the Champions Trophy, having lost the 2017 final at The Oval, missing out on their second title.
On a positive note, India holds a psychological advantage, remaining unbeaten against Pakistan in their last six ODIs (including a washout in the 2023 Asia Cup) since 2018.
The last meeting between these two teams was in the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage in New York, where the Men in Blue emerged victorious by nine runs, with Jasprit Bumrah taking home the Player of the Match award with figures of 3-14. India later claimed the title, defeating South Africa in the final to secure their second T20 World Cup trophy after 2007.
Here’s everything you need to know before the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy encounter:
When: February 23, Sunday
Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Time: The match kicks off at 2:30 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 2 PM.
Broadcast Details: The India vs Pakistan match will be aired on Star Sports Network.
Live Streaming: Catch the live action on JioHotstar.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c, wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
