IND vs PAK Champions Trophy 2025: Match Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Score Predictions, and More

The cricketing world is buzzing with anticipation as arch-rivals India and Pakistan prepare to face off in the Champions Trophy 2025. While both teams insist that it's "just another game," the pressure, history, and intensity of an India-Pakistan match tell a different story. The encounter at Dubai International Cricket Stadium is set to be a thrilling contest, with Pakistan needing a win to stay in the tournament and India looking to maintain their dominance.

Match Details

• Date & Time: February 23, 2025, 13:00 Local, 14:30 IST

• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium

• Weather: Sunny with a temperature around 32°C, minimal cloud cover, and low chances of dew.

Live Streaming Channels

For fans eager to catch the action live, the India vs Pakistan match in the Champions Trophy 2025 will be broadcast across multiple platforms globally:

• India: Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar (Live Streaming)

• Pakistan: PTV Sports, A Sports, Daraz App

• United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket

• United States & Canada: Willow TV

• Australia: Fox Sports, Kayo Sports

• Middle East & North Africa: Etisalat, StarzPlay

• South Africa: SuperSport

Make sure to check your local listings for accurate broadcast details.

Team News and Probable Playing XI

India

India is unlikely to make any changes to their winning combination from their victory over Bangladesh. Rishabh Pant is down with a viral fever, but his absence does not impact the lineup. Harshit Rana will continue as the third pacer, with Mohammed Shami leading the attack.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana

Pakistan

Pakistan is in a do-or-die situation, but their coach Aqib Javed has dismissed the idea of bringing in additional spinners despite the slow conditions. Their pace trio Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf—will spearhead the bowling attack.

Probable XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Pitch & Conditions

The Dubai pitch has been sluggish, favoring slow bowlers. In India's last match, stroke-making became difficult in the second innings, making the toss crucial. Teams will likely prefer batting first, aiming for a total above 250 to put pressure on the opposition.

• Average 1st innings score: 230-240

• Average 2nd innings score: 220-230

• Bowler-friendly conditions: Spinners expected to dominate middle overs

Players to Watch

India

• Shubman Gill: Having scored a century in the previous game, his form at the top is vital.

• Virat Kohli: Under pressure to break his lean patch, he has an excellent record against Pakistan.

• Mohammed Shami: With a five-wicket haul in the last match, he is India’s biggest threat with the new ball.

Pakistan

• Babar Azam: The backbone of Pakistan’s batting, his performance will be key.

• Mohammad Rizwan: As captain and wicketkeeper, he needs to lead from the front.

• Shaheen Afridi: Known for rattling India’s top order, he remains Pakistan’s X-factor with the new ball.

Winning Prediction: Who Holds the Edge?

While Pakistan holds an overall head-to-head advantage in ODIs, recent history favors India. Since the 2017 Champions Trophy final, India has dominated, winning five of the last six encounters. India's superior middle-order strength and adaptability to conditions give them the upper hand.

Scenario 1: If India Bats First

• Likely score: 260-280

• Strong start expected from Rohit and Gill

• Spinners to control middle overs

• Pakistan’s chase will depend on Babar and Rizwan, but India’s bowling attack may prove too strong

Scenario 2: If Pakistan Bats First

• Likely score: 230-250

• Top order struggles expected against India’s pace attack

• Middle overs will be a challenge against India’s spin duo of Jadeja and Kuldeep

• If Pakistan fails to cross 250, India will likely chase it down comfortably

Fantasy Cricket & Dream11 Tips

• Captain Choices: Shubman Gill, Babar Azam, Virat Kohli

• Vice-Captain Choices: Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan

• Top Batters: Shubman Gill, Babar Azam, KL Rahul

• Top Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Mohammed Shami, Haris Rauf

• All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja

Interesting Facts

• Pakistan’s only two ICC victories over India since 2011 came when their seamers dominated India in the powerplay (Mohd Amir in 2017 CT Final, Shaheen Afridi in 2021 T20 WC).

• India has a dominant 10-3 record against Pakistan in ICC ODI tournaments.

• Shubman Gill has scored the most runs by any player after 51 ODI innings (2688 runs at an average of 62.51).

• Virat Kohli needs just 15 runs to become the third-fastest to 14,000 ODI runs.

The Final Word

A high-pressure India vs Pakistan clash never fails to deliver drama and excitement. Pakistan is desperate to stay alive in the Champions Trophy, while India aims to cement their spot in the semi-finals. With both teams looking to make a statement, expect a fierce battle at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India’s superior form and all-round strength make them the favorites, but as history has shown, in an India-Pakistan game, anything can happen.