The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between Pakistan and India kicked off on February 23, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with cricket fans eagerly anticipating this fierce rivalry. Pakistan, desperately needing a win after their opener loss to New Zealand, was led by captain Mohammad Rizwan, who won the toss and chose to bat first. On the other side, India, coming off of victory against Bangladesh, aimed to secure their place in the semi-finals, maintaining their unchanged lineup.
The match started with high expectations, but fans were disheartened to see some empty stands at the stadium, raising questions about the turnout for what is usually branded cricket's greatest rivalry. Nonetheles, the atmosphere was charged as both teams prepared to take the field.
Initially, Pakistan looked stable with captain Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq at the crease. Imam replaced Fakhar Zaman, who had been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Right from the start, the Indian squad aimed to put pressure on Pakistan’s batting, with Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya taking the charge of India's bowling attack.
Shami, who recently made his return from injury, began with mixed attempts, delivering five wides right off the get-go which compounded the pressure on his performance. Meanwhile, Pakistan capitalized on the no-balls, reaching 28 runs without losing any wickets before India managed to tighten their bowling and claimed the first wicket.
A turning point came when Hardik Pandya dismissed Babar Azam (the star batter) after edging to the slip, generating excitement on the Indian side and leaving Pakistan reeling at 47 for 1. Fans and analysts noted how India, in previous clashes, seemed to construct the right kind of pressure for this very moment, pointing to their strategy of pushing Babar to his limits.
Commentators like Ramiz Raja highlighted, "This is a pivotal moment where Pakistan can’t afford to hit the snooze button but they also can’t lose anymore wickets." The statement rang true as the pressure mounted on Rizwan and Saud Shakeel to resurrect the innings after Babar’s early exit.
After the powerplay, Pakistan’s scoring rate drastically slowed, with dot balls piling up and frustration growing among the batters. By the 20th over, Pakistan’s score stood at 79 for 2, which was seen as alarmingly low considering the average first-innings score at this ground is around 218. Commentators suggested they should aim for at least 270 to have any hope of defending their total.
By the end of the first innings, Pakistan was struggling, their momentum strangled by Indian bowlers working together to maintain pressure and control. Kuldeep Yadav’s sharp turn and tight lines troubled Rizwan as well, eliciting comments from experts like Alex Hartley saying, “There are so many gaps to rotate the strike. Pakistan need to start hitting it about but can’t get too reckless. I think 270 will be a really good score.”
India’s bowlers executed their plans well, maintaining their composure through the nervous points of the innings. Hardik Pandya showcased brilliant form, yielding respectable figures and earning trust from their captain Rohit Sharma. The partnership dynamics between Shakeel and Rizwan remained delicate with attempted rotations and deliveries struggling to breach the Indian field. Although Shakeel managed to score boundaries, he saw wickets fall with alarming regularity prior to reaching any solid partnerships.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for India either. Mohammed Shami faced concern on the field after appearing to suffer from ankle pain, raising fresh worries around his fitness. Having just returned from another injury sidelined, any significant problem with him would leave India with major decisions to make about their bowling options.
From the sidelines, analysts noted the growing pressure on Rizwan to deliver and lift his team's morale. The sense of urgency hung thick within the stadium, as every run scored felt monumental under the looming specter of elimination from the tournament.
The match remained pivotal not merely for its sporting stakes but also for the pride of the teams, with Pakistan aiming to maintain their historical edge over India, having won the last Champions Trophy final against them back in 2017. There remains no love lost between the teams, with fans on both sides holding their breaths as each ball is bowled, knowing they are witnessing yet another chapter of their storied rivalry.
With the first innings wrapping up and nothing short of the expected fireworks delivered, cricket enthusiasts worldwide turned their eyes to the final score, which could dictate their tournament's fate.