Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed unwavering confidence in India's chances against Pakistan in the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash scheduled for Sunday, February 23, in Dubai. Ganguly, a key figure in India's cricketing history, emphasized that India's recent performances, particularly their well-rounded squad and formidable spin attack, give them a considerable edge over their arch-rivals. Given the history of intense encounters between these two teams, this match is expected to be yet another high-octane spectacle that will capture the attention of cricket fans worldwide.
India enters the game with a surge of momentum following a dominant performance against Bangladesh in their opening Group A match. The contest saw the return of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who made an immediate impact by securing a five-wicket haul, reaffirming his reputation as one of India's most reliable fast bowlers in ICC tournaments. Complementing the pace attack, India's spin trio—Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav—played a crucial role in stifling Bangladesh’s batting lineup. At one stage, Axar Patel was on the verge of a hat-trick, reducing Bangladesh to a precarious 35 for 5. However, a resilient 150-run partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali helped Bangladesh recover, pushing their total to 228. Despite this fightback, India comfortably chased down the target, highlighting their batting depth and bowling versatility.
On the other hand, Pakistan has had a rocky start to their Champions Trophy campaign, suffering a 60-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Karachi. The Kiwis set a formidable total of 320, courtesy of centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young. Pakistan's batting lineup struggled to build partnerships, failing to counter New Zealand's disciplined bowling attack, which effectively combined pace and spin to dismantle their chase. This loss has put Pakistan in a precarious position ahead of their crucial match against India, making it a must-win encounter to stay alive in the tournament.
Speaking at a promotional event in Kolkata, Ganguly underscored India's supremacy over Pakistan in recent years, particularly in ICC tournaments. He reiterated that India's strong squad, coupled with their wealth of experience in handling high-pressure situations, makes them favorites not just for this match but for the entire tournament. He particularly emphasized the role of spinners in Dubai’s conditions, pointing out that Pakistan's lack of depth in the spin department could work against them. While India has multiple high-quality spinners in their lineup, Pakistan’s squad features only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, which could leave them vulnerable on a surface expected to assist spin bowling.
Ganguly also weighed in on individual performances, specifically addressing Virat Kohli's recent struggles against leg-spinners. Kohli, one of India’s most celebrated batsmen, has found it challenging to rotate the strike against wrist spinners in recent matches. His dismissals to Adil Rashid and Rishad Hossain have raised concerns about his ability to dominate spin in the middle overs. However, Ganguly expressed confidence that Kohli, with his immense experience and proven track record, will find a way to counter this challenge. The former Indian captain reminded everyone that Kohli has accumulated 81 international centuries and has scored plenty of runs against high-quality leg-spinners in the past.
Looking at the bigger picture, Ganguly suggested that if India manages to secure a victory over Pakistan, it could spell an early exit for Babar Azam’s side from the tournament. With New Zealand having already beaten Pakistan, another loss would likely leave them with no realistic path to the knockout stage. He predicted that India and New Zealand would advance from Group A, given their superior form and overall balance in their squads.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s woes have been compounded by injuries, with explosive opener Fakhar Zaman sustaining a leg injury during their match against New Zealand. His absence has weakened an already fragile top order, further increasing the pressure on captain Babar Azam to deliver a standout performance against India.
With excitement building up for the marquee clash, fans from both nations are eagerly awaiting another thrilling chapter in the India-Pakistan rivalry. Given the form, team compositions, and conditions, India appears to have a significant upper hand. However, cricket is a game of uncertainties, and Pakistan, known for their unpredictability, will be desperate to stage a comeback and keep their tournament hopes alive. Regardless of the outcome, this encounter promises to be a spectacle filled with drama, intensity, and moments that will be remembered for years to come.
