As the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy approaches, there’s a common refrain that has been echoing from both teams: “It’s just another game.” Players from both sides have attempted to downplay the significance of this fierce rivalry, suggesting that the pressure typically associated with a match between these two cricketing giants won’t affect their approach. However, beneath these calm and composed statements, the intensity of the occasion cannot be entirely dismissed.
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India’s Approach: No Extra Pressure
Shubman Gill, India’s vice-captain, was keen to emphasize that there is no added pressure heading into this match. “It doesn’t change anything for us, honestly. We play every match to win the match, and this is no different for us,” Gill said in his pre-match comments. His remarks echo the mindset of the Indian team, which has been dominant in recent encounters against Pakistan. Indian players, including Gill, have made it clear that their preparation remains focused and grounded, with no additional emotional weight attached to the rivalry.
Similarly, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf also echoed similar sentiments, stating, “There is no extra pressure; we are relaxed. We will treat it as just another match.” While these remarks may sound reassuring, it’s hard to ignore the fact that such encounters come with immense pressure, especially for Pakistan. The true mental and emotional toll of these high-stakes matches is not something that can easily be brushed aside.
Pakistan’s Struggles: A Team Under Pressure
For Pakistan, the stakes are even higher, as they face a must-win situation following their disappointing defeat to New Zealand in their tournament opener. The match against India will be crucial for their survival in the competition. The Pakistani team found themselves in disarray during the New Zealand match, with both their bowling and batting failing to perform to expected standards. The bowlers, in particular, struggled to find their rhythm, while the batters were unable to accelerate or build partnerships.
In preparation for the India match, the Pakistani bowlers have been focusing on refining their skills, particularly with the swinging ball. During net sessions at the ICC Academy on the eve of the match, the bowlers worked on their in-swinging deliveries, something that was lacking in their previous outing. On the batting front, the players have been attempting big shots and aiming to clear the boundary, an area where they had previously faltered. Despite these efforts, the pressure on Pakistan is undeniable, and their survival in the tournament hinges on turning their fortunes around quickly.
India’s Urgency: Kohli’s Determination
While the focus has largely been on Pakistan’s struggles, there is also a sense of urgency within the Indian camp. Virat Kohli, one of India’s most prolific batsmen, has been under scrutiny due to a lean patch in terms of runs. Concerns about his batting technique have sparked debates, and Kohli, ever the perfectionist, is determined to regain his best form. To ensure he is fully prepared, Kohli arrived an hour before his teammates for a special batting session at the ICC Academy, accompanied by two throwdown specialists and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.
Kohli’s determination to regain his touch was evident in his extra efforts at the nets. The trademark swagger and confidence that are a hallmark of his batting, especially in his signature cover drives, have been missing lately. Kohli is clearly leaving nothing to chance and is working tirelessly to restore his fluency with the bat before the crucial encounter against Pakistan. His focus on regaining his former touch signals just how seriously the Indian team is taking this match, despite their outward statements to the contrary.
India’s Favoritism: Recent Record and Form
Looking at the numbers and recent form, India is the clear favorite heading into this match. Since the 2017 Champions Trophy final, India has won five of the six encounters against Pakistan, a testament to their dominance in recent years. Overall, Pakistan holds a slight lead in the head-to-head record with 73 victories to India’s 57, but when it comes to ICC events, particularly in the past decade, India has outperformed Pakistan. Since the 2015 World Cup, India has lost only once to Pakistan, in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, while winning seven of the encounters, with one no result.
These statistics, combined with India’s recent form, suggest that they are the stronger side heading into the match. However, legendary former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar cautioned against complacency. Speaking on a television show, Gavaskar acknowledged that while India is the favorite, the nature of the India-Pakistan rivalry means that a single game-changing moment could alter the course of the match. He warned that one moment of brilliance from either side could shift the balance and lead to a dramatic turn in the game.
Match Details
The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match will take place on February 23, with the local time set at 13:00 and 14:30 IST. The venue for this high-octane contest is the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which has hosted numerous memorable clashes in the past.
As for the conditions, the weather forecast predicts bright and sunny conditions, with little chance of dew during the match. This could play a significant role in the team’s decision-making process. The team winning the toss may opt to bat first, given the dry conditions and the potential for the pitch to play better initially before it slows down later in the game.
India’s Team News
India’s team is expected to remain unchanged, with Rohit Sharma likely to field the same XI that triumphed over Bangladesh. Rishabh Pant, who has been sidelined due to a viral fever, is unlikely to impact the playing XI. Harshit Rana is expected to continue in the lineup, with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh likely to miss out. Mohammed Shami will lead the Indian bowling attack, and the team will look to capitalize on their formidable batting lineup.
Probable India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana.
Pakistan’s Team News
For Pakistan, coach Aqib Javed has confirmed that the team will stick to its strength: pace bowling. Despite the conditions favoring slow bowlers, Pakistan will go with three frontline pacers: Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. While some may have expected Pakistan to opt for more spinners, Javed has remained adamant that the pace attack is their key weapon.
Probable Pakistan XI: 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.
Key Match Facts
- Pakistan’s recent victories against India in ICC tournaments have been driven by their seamers’ ability to dominate the Indian batters in the Powerplay overs. In the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Mohammad Amir and in the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shaheen Afridi were instrumental in India’s downfall.
- India leads Pakistan 10-3 in ICC ODI encounters but Pakistan holds a slight advantage of 3-2 in Champions Trophy matchups.
- Shubman Gill has been in exceptional form, having scored 2688 runs in just 51 innings, with the highest average (62.51) among active players. He also has the most runs at this stage of his career compared to others.
What the Players Said
Shubman Gill, speaking about the India-Pakistan rivalry, said, “I don’t believe that over-hype or under-hype is a thing. India-Pakistan has a long history. It’s an exciting contest when both these teams play. Everyone enjoys watching it. Our effort is to play for the team, represent my country, and win with all my heart.”
Pakistan’s coach Aqib Javed, on the pressure of the rivalry, stated, “What pressure? Because every game is different. And India-Pakistan match, even if it is after ten matches, after winning ten matches or after losing six matches, it cannot change the beauty of an India-Pakistan match.”
As both teams prepare for this thrilling encounter, the players’ calm exteriors mask the high stakes and the intense pressure that will undoubtedly define the outcome.