Pakistan and India Clash in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy Showdown

Dubai, UAE — Cricket fans are gearing up for one of the most anticipated matches of the year as Pakistan faces India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at Dubai International Stadium on February 23 at 4 a.m. ET. This highly competitive showdown marks the second Group A match for both teams in a tournament that sees the past two winners—India in 2017 and Pakistan, the defending champions, also in 2017—battle in a fierce rivalry.

The significance of this game can’t be overstated, as it shifts the focus of world cricket amid ongoing tensions between the two nations. Both teams are vying for a strong position in the group stage, which also includes New Zealand and Bangladesh.

India enters the match as the world’s No. 1 ODI team and comes off a dominant six-wicket victory against Bangladesh. Star batsman Shubman Gill was instrumental, scoring an unbeaten 101 runs, while bowler Mohammed Shami took five wickets for 53 runs. Meanwhile, Pakistan, currently rated No. 3, looks to bounce back after suffering a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in their opener.

In an unsettling injury update, Pakistan’s key player Fakhar Zaman, who previously scored 114 runs in the Champions Trophy final against India, will miss the game due to an oblique injury. Imam-ul-Haq has been named as his replacement.

Historically, the rivalry is intense; the two teams have faced off 135 times in ODIs, with India holding a slight edge by winning 57 matches compared to Pakistan’s 73 victories. However, India has notably won seven of the last eight encounters, including a six-run victory when they last met in June 2024 during the T20 World Cup group stage.

The stakes are high for this clash, as the top two teams from the group will advance to the knockout stage. Fans eager to watch the match can live stream it for free on various platforms, including JioHotstar in India and other services in Pakistan.

As both teams prepare, the cricketing world will be watching closely to see if India can continue their winning streak or if Pakistan can harness the power of their home crowd to claim a crucial victory.