After India secured a dominant six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their Champions Trophy match on February 23, 2025, former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja expressed his disappointment at the overall quality of the game. Chasing down 242 runs, India finished with 244 for 4, thanks to Virat Kohli's masterful century, scoring 100 not out with 35 balls to spare.
Sitting on the panel of The DP World Dressing Room Show on Ten Sports, Jadeja didn't shy away from sharing his dissatisfaction with the nature of what was expected to be a closely contested match. "Of course, I’m proud of my team, but I’m not happy today. You want to see a good, competitive game... I’m honestly disappointed with the overall game. There was no contest," he stated, summing up the feeling of many cricket fans who anticipated more from this much-hyped encounter.
Jadeja had pointed to Pakistan's lack of competitiveness, urging, "Except toss, what did you win? You didn’t even manage to win hearts. Yes, you can win or lose matches, but even in defeat, there’s a moment where you earn respect. Pakistan couldn’t even achieve this today." This highlighted not only the defeat but also the manner of the loss—the absence of moments of brilliance or heart showed by the Pakistani side.
Critiquing the batting strategy employed by the Pakistan team, Jadeja emphasized their struggle, pointing out their hefty percentage of dot balls and their sluggish scoring rate. "India lost just four wickets. Take a look at those last four. The first one was clean bowled by Shaheen to Rohit. The second was a ball spinning sharply. The third needed an outstanding catch, and the fourth was the only bouncer bowled the entire innings. Those four deliveries were the only good moments for Pakistan. I’m sorry if I’m emphasizing it," Jadeja added, reiteratively showcasing his disappoinment.
The comments drew laughter from fellow commentator Wasim Akram, who lightheartedly responded, "No… it’s fine. You’ve got to rub on it."
But the laughter belied the seriousness of Pakistan's situation. After this match, Pakistan is on the brink of elimination from the tournament. Following their losses to both India and New Zealand, they are now left needing not just to win but also to rely on other match outcomes to keep their hopes alive.
With their next match set against Bangladesh on February 27, the Pakistani side finds themselves under extreme pressure. A win is necessary, but even coupled with this necessity, they need New Zealand to not secure victories against their opponents to remain relevant in the tournament.
Jadeja's critique also reflects wider conversations surrounding the state of the Pakistan cricket team. With references to their performance not aligning with the skills traditionally associated with Pakistani cricket, he noted their fitness and strategy were major concerns. "Pakistan don't have the skills we used to associate with them in the past. Their fitness was also questionable. What disappointed me with this team is their lack of skillset," Jadeja commented.
Looking at the table, India currently leads the group with four points, having all but sealed their semifinal place with this victory over Pakistan. Their match against New Zealand on March 2 will be pivotal for both their position and the fate of Pakistan, pending whether they can mask their inability to compete effectively.
Despite taking pride in India's win, Jadeja highlighted the sentiment within the cricketing world—that Pakistan's efforts fell woefully short of expectations. Following the showdown, many are left questioning the future direction of Pakistan cricket and the potential for resurgence in their competitive edge against rivals, especially against formidable opponents like India.
The conversation surrounding this match will remain at the forefront of cricket discussions until the conclusion of the tournament, underlining the highs and lows of competitive sporting spectacle.