The Champions Trophy 2025 is currently in full swing, with the group stage unfolding smoothly in Pakistan. Despite earlier concerns, there have been no complaints about the host nation’s ability to organise the tournament. However, much of the pre-tournament conversation revolved around India’s political tensions with Pakistan, leading to a significant development, i.e., Rohit Sharma’s team opted not to travel to Pakistan; instead, all the matches of India are being held in Dubai.
This decision by the ICC sparked debate within the cricketing community. Many believe that playing all their games on the same pitch gives India a considerable edge over other teams. Addressing this viewpoint in a recent discussion, the Australian cricketer Pat Cummins acknowledged the advantage India has. While he appreciated that the tournament was proceeding as planned, he pointed out that familiarity with Dubai’s conditions provided India with a significant boost and they have a clear advantage over the other teams.
Currently sidelined due to injury, Pat Cummins is missing the ongoing tournament but his observations reflect the concerns of many experts.
India has lived up to expectations, beginning their campaign with an emphatic six-wicket victory against Bangladesh. Shubman Gill played a key role with an unbeaten century, setting the tone for their dominance. Their momentum carried into the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan, where they once again secured a six-wicket win. Chasing 242, India comfortably reached 244/4 in just 42.3 overs, with Virat Kohli leading the charge with a match-winning century. Shreyas Iyer also contributed significantly with a steady 56-run innings, while Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi managed to take two wickets.
India’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya, played a crucial role in restricting Pakistan to 241 runs. Kuldeep’s three-wicket haul and Hardik’s two dismissals kept the opposition in check. Despite Saud Shakeel’s fighting knock of 62, Pakistan fell short of setting a challenging target. Pakistan now finds itself on the brink of elimination, requiring a near-impossible turnaround to keep their hopes alive. The disappointment was evident as captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted that their campaign had all but ended.
With India in prime form and Pakistan struggling, the tournament’s group stage has already seen some dramatic turns, setting the stage for an intriguing finish.
