IND vs PAK: You don't have to worry neighbours... after defeating one it is now the turn of the other

IND vs PAK: The match between India and Pakistan is to be played on Sunday in the Champions Trophy-2025. India had defeated its neighbouring country Bangladesh in its first match. Now in the second match, it will face another neighbouring country which has lost to New Zealand in its first match. The eyes of the whole world are on this match between India and Pakistan.

Ankush Pandey Ankush Pandey
Feb 22, 2025 - 06:16
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IND vs PAK: You don't have to worry neighbours... after defeating one it is now the turn of the other
IND vs PAK: You don't have to worry neighbours... after defeating one it is now the turn of the other

HighLights

You don't have to panic, neighbours...because the way India and Pakistan have performed in their first matches of the Champions Trophy, it seems that the Indian team has the upper hand.

When COVID spread in the year 2020, Pakistan's Prime Minister and Pakistani captain Imran Khan came to address the people of his country. Advising the people of Pakistan to avoid Covid, Imran said, 'First of all, you don't have to panic.'

Also read: ICC approved hybrid Champions Trophy model, but Pakistan will not visit India in 2026.

Akhtar also said this

When India and Pakistan were about to clash before the T20 World Cup held in Dubai in 2021, former Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar had teased his team by saying, 'First of all, you should not panic.' Once again these two teams are face to face. The Indian team, which came to win the title after 12 years, defeated a neighbor Bangladesh by six wickets in the first match of the Champions Trophy and now it is the turn of the other neighbor Pakistan. 

When the teams of India and Pakistan will land at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, the excitement of cricket will be at its peak. When this ICC tournament was last played in 2017, these two arch rivals had clashed twice. While India won in the group stage, Pakistan gave India such a wound by winning the final, the pain of which will still be in the minds of Indian players.

The current team has Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami who were part of the team that lost the final eight years ago. This will probably be the last ODI tournament for Virat, Rohit and Jadeja and these three would like to defeat Pakistan this time and destroy their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Also read: IND vs BAN: Team India dominates Champions Trophy, defeats Bangladesh with Gill's century

Important match for Pakistan

If Pakistan loses this match too after the loss to New Zealand, then its chances of reaching the last four will be negligible. In such a situation, Pakistanis will be worried about getting out in the group stage here too, just like the T20 World Cup held in West Indies and America last year.

Gill is in tremendous form

Shubman Gill is proving to be the 'run machine' of ODI cricket these days and it does not matter to him where the match is being played or who is the opposing team. After a brilliant performance in the home series against England, the challenge before him in India's first match against Bangladesh in Dubai was different. The pitch was slow and the bowlers were constantly looking for the shortcomings of the batsmen.

Despite this, Gill scored his eighth ODI century and led India to a six-wicket win. He completed his century in 125 balls, which is his slowest century but perhaps it is also the most important innings of his career. Gill's form in the last phase of the career of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have been the pivot of Indian batting for years, is a good sign for the Indian team. India will need the same performance from him in the upcoming matches against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Also read: Champions Trophy 2025, Will India go to Pakistan for Champions Trophy? Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the PCB, is hopeful.

Against Bangladesh, he played some great strokes including the pull shot off fast bowler Tanjim Hasan. He also played the spinners and fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman with ease and scored only 30 runs in 52 balls, but at that time it was more important to play while saving wickets.

Gill said after the match, "This was one of the most satisfying innings of my career. I had to play till the end and that is what I tried."

Shami filled the void left by Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah's exit before the Champions Trophy was a big blow for the team and other teams also heaved a sigh of relief. Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hasan Shanto himself was looking for possibilities to defeat the Indian team in the absence of Bumrah, but no one paid attention to Mohammad Shami who was returning from injury. Shami, who looked very ordinary in the T20 and ODI series against England, showed by taking five wickets in the very first match that the Indian fast bowling under his leadership cannot be taken lightly.

Shami did not let the absence of Bumrah be felt and Harshit Rana supported him fully from the other end. Now against Pakistan too, the Indian team will have the highest expectations from this evergreen bowler, while the Pakistani camp would also be busy making strategies against Shami.

Also read: Team India reached Dubai for Champions Trophy 2025, will play its first match on this day