Pakistan breathed a collective sigh of relief as star batter Babar Azam was confirmed in the playing XI for their high-stakes Champions Trophy 2025 clash against India in Dubai. Concerns over his availability arose after the former captain unexpectedly missed Pakistan’s final training session on the eve of the game, sparking speculation about his fitness. Head coach Aaqib Javed addressed the media but remained tight-lipped about the specifics, merely stating that Babar had opted for rest. However, the sight of him training with his teammates during the warm-up session ahead of the toss reassured fans and teammates alike.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Babar, Pakistan made only one change to their playing XI, bringing in Imam-ul-Haq to replace Fakhar Zaman, who suffered an injury in their tournament opener against New Zealand. Zaman’s absence was a blow to Pakistan, given his experience in high-pressure games, but the team management backed Imam to provide stability at the top. Meanwhile, India stuck to their winning combination, with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir opting for consistency rather than tinkering with the lineup. The decision reflected their confidence in the squad's balance and recent performances.
At the toss, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan won the coin flip and, after careful deliberation, elected to bat first. The choice was strategic, as the evening conditions in Dubai were expected to remain dry, eliminating the advantage of dew for the chasing team. Pakistan's batting order, which had come under scrutiny after their below-par performance against New Zealand, now faced an immense challenge against a formidable Indian bowling attack.
Playing XIs:
India:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Axar Patel
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Shami
- Kuldeep Yadav
Pakistan:
- 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
Babar Azam entered the contest under intense scrutiny following his underwhelming knock against New Zealand. Pakistan had conceded a massive 320 runs in that match after a lackluster bowling performance, but given the batting-friendly conditions in Karachi, experts believed the total was well within reach. Pakistan had previously chased down 350+ at the same venue against South Africa in a tri-series fixture earlier in February, further raising expectations.
However, against New Zealand, Pakistan’s batting effort lacked urgency. The team managed only 22 runs in the first 10 overs, with Babar taking a painstaking 81 deliveries to reach his half-century. His inability to accelerate at a crucial juncture was widely criticized, as Pakistan eventually folded for 260, failing to even play their full quota of 50 overs. The slow approach put pressure on the middle order, leaving them too much to do in the latter stages of the chase.
In the wake of that defeat, pressure mounted on the team. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi reportedly addressed the squad during their training session on Saturday, delivering a strong message. According to PTI, Naqvi urged the players to give their all, stating that "winning at any cost" was the only acceptable outcome. The directive highlighted the urgency of the situation, as a loss to India would leave Pakistan on the brink of an early tournament exit. Their campaign had already suffered a significant setback with the 60-run loss to New Zealand, and another defeat would all but eliminate their chances of making the semi-finals.
With the stakes higher than ever, Pakistan’s batting unit needed a vastly improved performance. Their final league-stage fixture was set against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Thursday, but if they failed to secure a win against India, that match would likely become a mere formality. Meanwhile, India, brimming with confidence, looked to extend their dominance over their arch-rivals and move one step closer to sealing a spot in the knockout stage.
