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The long-awaited clash between India and Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has finally kicked off in Dubai. Fans around the world are on the edge of their seats as the two cricket giants face off in what promises to be a high-voltage encounter.
In a twist of fate, Indian captain Rohit Sharma lost the toss for the ninth consecutive time in ODIs—a streak that has now reached 12 consecutive toss losses since the 2023 World Cup final. Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bat first. This series of unfortunate toss outcomes has set an unwanted record for Team India, surpassing the previous record held by the Netherlands, who lost 11 consecutive tosses between 2011 and 2013.
A Historic Rivalry Renewed
This match marks the first India-Pakistan meeting in the Champions Trophy in eight years—the last encounter was in 2017, when Pakistan defeated India to clinch the title. Historically, the two sides have met five times in this tournament, with Pakistan winning three times and India twice. A victory for India in today’s match could level the head-to-head record at 3-3.
Team News
The Indian squad remains unchanged for this high-stakes game. However, Pakistan has made one alteration: Imam-ul-Haq has been named in the playing XI, replacing Fakhar Zaman, who is sidelined for the rest of the tournament after sustaining an injury during a match against New Zealand.
Playing Elevens
India (Playing XI):
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Axar Patel
- KL Rahul (wicketkeeper)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Shami
- Kuldeep Yadav
Pakistan (Playing XI):
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Tayyab Tahir
- Khushdil Shah
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
- Abrar Ahmed
As both teams take the field, the stage is set for a thrilling contest filled with passion, rivalry, and cricketing excellence. Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable battle on the pitch.
