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The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to enter into its most exciting phase with arch-rivals India and Pakistan set to face each other at the Dubai International Stadium. The group-stage clash of the prestigious tournament promises a delightful cricketing action power-packed with remarkable performances with the bat and the bowl.
India enter into the contest with their heads held high
The Indian team is set to face the arch-rivals full of confidence and belief in themselves as they dominated Bangladesh in their opening encounter of the Champions Trophy and carved out a majestic win by 6 wickets. Shubman Gill was the star of the show for India with the bat as his emphatic century paved the way for an epic run chase by the Rohit Sharma– led team.
With the bowl, Mohammad Shami showcased exceptional skills and proved why he is a force to reckon with in ICC events. The star pacer took 5 wickets for 53 runs in 10 overs and dismantled Bangladesh’s batting order and helped his team restrict the rivals’ innings to just 228 runs in 49.4 overs.
A do-or-die clash for Pakistan
On the other hand, the mood in the Pakistani camp is full of uncertainty and disappointment as they were outperformed by New Zealand in the opening clash of the tournament on their home soil. The Black Caps mandated the course of the game and after scoring 320 runs in their 50 overs, bowled out the Pakistani batting order on 260 runs securing a 60-run win over the defending champions. The clash against India is the last chance for the hosts to save their prospects in the tournament.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Pitch Report for IND vs PAK clash, Dubai International Cricket Stadium ODI Stats and Records
Analyzing Dubai’s weather for the India-Pakistan clash
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium, known for its seam-friendly conditions in the early stages and dew-affected evenings, adds an intriguing dynamic to this day-night encounter. Weather forecasts predict dry, warm temperatures around 31°C, with moderate humidity (48%) and light winds. However, the real determining factor will be the dew. As the evening sets in, the moisture accumulation on the outfield and pitch could make it difficult for both spinners and pacers to grip the ball effectively in the second innings. Historically, teams winning the toss may opt to chase, as 62.71% of matches at Dubai have been won by the team fielding first. The pitch itself, a blend of abrasive concrete and uneven strips, tends to slow down as the game advances, increasingly favoring spin as the match progresses.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.
