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Cricket is a team game decided by individual battles. So, here are our top battles to watch out for as India face Pakistan in their second match of the Champions Trophy 2025.
(From left) Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shaheen Shah Afridi (PTI Photo)
India vs Pakistan – it’s been called ‘Mother of All Battles’. Another chapter in one of the sport’s greatest rivalries will be added this Sunday in the desert when Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Rizwan lead their troops out at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for a Group A Champions Trophy clash.
There’s plenty of history, grudge and personal rivalries between these two teams. Ahead of their latest on-field clash, here’s a look at the key battles that could define the blockbuster contest.
Virat Kohli vs Haris Rauf/Abrar Ahmed
Every time Kohli comes face to face with Rauf, the imagery of the India batting icon hitting that iconic six during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne will be refreshed. Thanks to that shot, there on-field face-offs are eagerly awaited. The two have mostly clashed in T20Is with Kohli taking him for 42 runs off 32 deliveries spread across four innings. In ODIs, Kohli has two runs off his five deliveries in two innings and hasn’t been dismissed by the right-arm pacer yet. Rauf will hope to disturb the Indian ace with his extreme pace and hope to exploit his weakness against the outside off deliveries.
Kohli’s struggles against the legspinners will have Pakistan’s Abrar salivating and it’s likely that Mohammad Rizwan could pit the 26-year-old as soon as the former India captain walks out to bat in Dubai. Even against Bangladesh, Kohli, after getting the start, lost his wicket to leggie Rishad Hossain. The batting superstar though, once set, has the propensity to make it count and against Pakistan, he averages an excellent 52.15 in 16 innings.
Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Shah Afridi
Afridi’s ability to generate swing with the new ball makes him a dangerous prospect for India’s top-order. The last time India faced Pakistan in a Champions Trophy match, a certain left-arm pacer going by the name of Mohammad Amir inflicted lasting damage with the new ball. Rohit has scored 48 runs off Shaheen’s 56 deliveries in four ODI innings and has been dismissed twice. Dealing with the Pakistan’s left-arm quick’s opening spell will be key for India’s top-order.
Babar Azam vs Kuldeep Yadav
Remember 2019 World Cup? Remember Kuldeep’s peach of a delivery to clean up Babar? Kuldeep has got the better of Pakistan’s best batter twice in four innings while conceding just 28 runs in 52 deliveries. That’s the stranglehold the India left-arm spinner has over the former Pakistan captain. Will Kuldeep extend his dominance over Babar?
Shubman Gill vs Naseem Shah
Right-arm pacer Naseem has been one of Pakistan’s key performers. Against New Zealand, in his first spell, he accounted for their best batter Kane Williamson with an excellent delivery. The in-form India opener Gill will be aware of the impact Shah can have and therefore, should be a little cautious early on. Gill has thus far faced 17 deliveries from Shah in two ODIs and scored 11 runs off them without getting dismissed.
Mohammed Shami vs Mohammad Rizwan
Rizwan has the capability to drop anchor and bat for long. Having been dismissed cheaply in Pakistan’s tournament opener, he will be itching to bounce back and make it count in a do-or-die contest against his team’s arch-rivals. Rizwan though doesn’t have a good record against India in ODIs – he has 51 runs off 74 deliveries in two innings.
Shami will be hoping to see the back of Pakistan captain early on. The two haven’t faced each other yet in ODIs.
Shami has made an excellent start to the tournament with a five-for against Bangladesh. He has so far taken five wickets in three ODIs against Pakistan – four of them at the 2015 ODI World Cup Pool B clash in Adelaide.
- Location :
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
