India Vs Pakistan
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have faced each other five times in the ICC Champions Trophy since 2004, with Pakistan holding a 3-2 edge.
Their inaugural clash in 2004 saw Pakistan chase down India’s 200-run total with a three-wicket win in Southampton. The rivalry peaked in the 2017 final at The Oval, where Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman scored a match-winning 114 no, propelling them to a historic 180-run victory—the largest margin in an ICC final.
India’s victories include an eight-wicket win in Birmingham (2013) led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling. Each encounter has been marked by high stakes; Sunday’s 2025 clash offers India a chance to level the Champions Trophy head-to-head record .
Dubai’s neutral venue adds intrigue to this rivalry. While Pakistan historically dominated India in UAE ODIs (18-6), India won both prior Dubai clashes. The pitch favors balanced contests, as seen in India’s recent six-wicket win over Bangladesh here.
Pakistan’s decision to bat first after winning the toss reflects confidence in setting targets at this ground. However, India’s bowling attack—led by Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul against Bangladesh—poses challenges under Dubai’s lights.
Fakhar Zaman’s 114 no in the 2017 final remains Pakistan’s standout individual performance. For India, Yuvraj Singh’s all-round display (53 runs, 2 wickets) during their 2017 group-stage win highlighted his clutch pedigree.
In the current tournament, Shubman Gill’s century against Bangladesh signals form, while Shaheen Afridi’s wicketless opener against New Zealand raises concerns for Pakistan. Mohammed Shami’s recent five-for makes him pivotal to India’s attack.
Pakistan face elimination if defeated, having lost their opener to New Zealand . India need a win to secure semi-final qualification after defeating Bangladesh. Since 2015, India dominate bilateral ODI results, though Pakistan retain a narrow Champions Trophy edge. The Men in Blue’s bowling depth—evidenced by restricting Bangladesh to 228 despite a mid-innings fightback—contrasts with Pakistan’s struggling pace attack.