India will take on Pakistan in a much-anticipated Group A fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium today. A victory would assure India a place in the semi-finals, while Pakistan, desperate for a win after their loss to New Zealand, must triumph to keep their campaign alive.
The last time the two sides met in a Champions Trophy fixture was the 2017 final, where Virat Kohli-led India suffered a resounding 180-run defeat.
India, Pakistan lock horns in Dubai encounter
Pakistan’s victory was powered by Fakhar Zaman’s century and a fiery spell from Mohammad Amir. For the Indian contingent that endured that painful loss, today’s encounter presents an opportunity to set the record straight.
The India-Pakistan rivalry, dating back to 1952, remains one of cricket’s most intense, drawing immense interest worldwide.
Their previous 50-over meeting was in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, where India secured a convincing seven-wicket win.
The two sides also clashed at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year, with India prevailing by six runs in a thrilling contest.
Pakistan, without the services of Fakhar Zaman, has struggled to assert dominance in their batting line-up, raising concerns ahead of the high-stakes clash.
Recent form
Pakistan: Pakistan’s performance in ODIs has been inconsistent. They have struggled against New Zealand, suffering three defeats in 2025, including in the tournament opener.
However, they demonstrated their capability by beating South Africa ahead of the Champions Trophy, continuing their dominance from their 3-0 ODI series sweep of the Proteas last December.
India: India has been in formidable form, winning eight of their nine white-ball encounters this year, including an unblemished record in ODIs.
Their pre-tournament 3-0 series triumph over England and a strong showing against Bangladesh in their opening fixture underline their preparedness.
Even in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, they have shown the depth to take on any side.
Players to watch
Pakistan: Babar Azam The former No.1 ODI batsman will be central to Pakistan’s fortunes. After an underwhelming 2024 by his standards, Babar’s 64-run knock against New Zealand in the opening fixture could be a catalyst for a return to form. His wicket will be pivotal for India’s bowling attack.
India: Shubman Gill Currently the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman, Shubman Gill’s century in India’s opening match underlines his prowess. At 25, Gill has cemented his position as one of India’s most dependable batters. Pakistan will be eager to find ways to dismiss him early.
Squads
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
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