The ICC Champions Trophy, a premier cricket tournament, showcases intense battles among top teams. Held every four years, it epitomizes cricket’s pinnacle, drawing global attention. Teams vie fiercely, displaying skill, strategy, and determination. With nail-biting matches, it captivates fans worldwide, fostering a spirit of competition and camaraderie. Established in 1998, it has evolved into a celebrated event revered by players and enthusiasts alike. Amidst electrifying atmospheres, legends emerge, and underdogs triumph, etching unforgettable moments in cricket history. As teams clash for glory, the ICC Champions Trophy continues to reign as a spectacle of excellence and sportsmanship.

Will India Participate in Champions Trophy 2025?

India and Pakistan have a long history in cricket and outside of it. But ever since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, both nations have parted ways with respect to sports or any other activities. Team India has not travelled to Pakistan for a bilateral series or even an ICC event. However, there hasn’t been any ICC event taking place in Pakistan in a long time. According to a source from the BCCI said, “India might skip the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and there’s talk of changing the venue or using a hybrid model.” (IANS)

If we look at past ICC or ACC events, India has always shied away from touring Pakistan. Last Year, during the Asia Cup, India influenced the organisers, and the event, which was supposed to be hosted by Pakistan, was shifted towards a Hybrid model. Evidently, India played all its matches in Sri Lanka, and even the Final was shifted to Sri Lanka as India was part of it.

This move heavily affected the PCB, as they eventually had to share a part of their revenue with Sri Lanka Cricket. The Pakistani fans were left dejected, as the Indian Cricket Team is the biggest box-office attraction with respect to viewership and Gate attendance.

India and Pakistan Champions Trophy Match

Last, India and Pakistan played together in England’s Champions Trophy event in 2017. However, Pakistan outperformed India in the Finals, beating them by 180 runs. Fakhar Zaman was the difference maker. The Pakistani lad played a blistering knock of 114 runs in 106 balls with twelve (4s) and three (6s). Alongside him was his teammate Mohammed Amir, who took three wickets for a mere 16 runs.

This win against India in the finals of an IIC event is a badge of honour for Pakistani players and their fans. However, two years later, India thrashed Pakistan in the group stages of the Cricket World Cup in England in 2019. Talking about travelling, Pakistan has toured India at many of the ICC events in the past, whether it is the 2011 World Cup, the 2016 T20 World Cup, or the recently concluded 2023 50-over World Cup. Pakistan has been a constant visitor, unlike India.

Why Teams Don’t Travel to Pakistan?

Pakistan has had a very unstable environment and state of affairs in their country. One of the major incidents which led other teams not to travel to Pakistan was the terrorist attack on the 2009 Sri Lankan team that travelled to Pakistan. This horrendous event shut all the doors for the Pakistan Sports fraternity. Apart from this, a Bomb blast in the Marriott hotel also made headlines. These two were just a few of many instances of unstable political structure in the country that led other teams to abandon Pakistan.

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Coming back to India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 event, as per sources, BCCI stands firm on its decision not to travel to Pakistan. However, if India doesn’t participate, it will hamper not only the PCB pockets but also the pockets of ICC. Moreover, a Hybrid model is a valid option if the governing body wishes to make money out of the event.

Well, the answer to the question is yes. Though India has lost their first game in the Super 4, there are chances for India to make it into the finals and face Pakistan which would turn out to be a best of 3 games.

With a win over India, Pakistan has strengthened their chances of qualifying into the final. All they have to do is win one of their remaining two games. But on the other side, India must win both their games. They must beat Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to reach the Asia Cup finals for the 3^rd time in a row.

How can India reach Asia Cup Final?

India is set to play Sri Lanka on 6th September at Dubai International Stadium. India must win to keep their hopes alive and give themselves breathing space in the league table. Not only this, India must beat Afghanistan on the 8^th of September at the same stadium, Dubai International. If India manages to win both their remaining games then they’re through to the finals of the Asia Cup.

What if India wins only against Sri Lanka?

One of the other possibilities is that India beats Sri Lanka and losses to Afghanistan, possible. Then Pakistan must beat Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, and India should win with a good net run rate. Whereas Sri Lanka must face a heavy defeat. If such scenarios occur, then both India and Pakistan would qualify for the finals.

While most of the people around the globe are backing India and Pakistan to face off what most call a “Final of Trilogy”. One cannot count out the dark horses of this tournament i.e. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. On one side is the group stage dominant Afghanistan who put an end to the Bangladesh campaign and shook up Sri Lanka’s chances to reach super4. Whereas, Sri Lanka after a disastrous opening game against Afghanistan rise from the ashes and is sitting on top of the league table.

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India walking on a dead street

India must act on their toes if they want to save the crown getting away from their head of Asian Champions. There are major concerns that Dravid and Rohit have to look into one being the bowling department. With the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, India was seen on the ground as headless chicken in the middle order. Though Virat Kohli has taken all the spotlight on his head, one cannot deny the void Jadeja’s departure has created. India lacks depth in its pace attack and we cannot demand every day for Bhuvneshwar to perform. What lies between India and the 8th Asia Cup Title is 2 underdog teams with the potential to end India’s hope to reach the final and arch-rival Pakistan who are knocking at the doors of the Asia Cup final.

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Pakistan won the toss and elect to bowl first given the superficial belief of winning the toss and bowling to win the game.

1^st Innings

India batting first, the hitman Rohit and KL Rahul cleared their intent to go against the Pakistan pace attack from the first ball itself. The duo took charge in their hands and hammered the bowlers all across the park. India batted at a sublime run rate of more than 12 per over, scoring 50 0f 26 balls. It is for the first time since the T20 inception India played so well in the first six overs.

In the following over Rahul ran down the wicket, taking on Shadab, but found Nawaz at the long on. India was soon reduced to 62 for 2 with both openers back in the stands. Following the loss of 2 quick wickets, Virat Kohli and Surya Kumar Yadav tried to balance the innings but Surya gave away his wicket cheaply. India kept losing wickets from one end and Kohli held his ground firmly from the other side. After losing Pant and Hooda, Kohli had to take charge of his hands. Kohli manages to score 60 of 44 balls with 2 sixes and 8 fours, helping India reach a fighting total of 181 with the loss of 7 wickets.

India was flying well until the 6^th over began when Rohit chipped one in the air off Rauf. It was Khushdil at mid-wicket who took the catch and sent Indian Skipper back to the Pavilion.

2nd Innings

Pakistan start their innings with a boundary given a bigger required run rate from the start. Rizwan played an aggressive knock, whereas Babar went slowly from the other end. India soon got their 1^st wicket in the face of Babar who departed for 14 off 10 balls. Soon Fakhar Zaman got tricked into Chahal’s spin and gets caught at the boundary ropes by Virat Kohli. India kept Pakistan hitting around the bush, and did not let them surpass the required run rate.

After losing 2 quick wickets Pakistan also needed to balance their innings. Incomes Nawaz, Rizwan, and Nawaz cumulatively added runs from both ends. Rizwan went to bring up his half-century. Whereas Nawaz played the most important cameo in the Pakistan Innings. Nawaz added 42 off 20 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours, scoring 36 of 42 runs in boundaries.

The games swung like a pendulum until Bishnoi sent off Nawaz breaking the partnership and denting Pakistan’s hopes of clinching a win over arch-rivals India. Soon Rizwan slogged a ball wide of the off stump in the Bhuvneshwar’s over his wicket shifting the momentum in India’s favor. Things look good for men in blue until Arsh dropped a dolly from Asif in the 18^th over. It was at this moment fans knew that India has messed up the opportunity. Following this incident, Asif went on to score a crucial knock of 16 0ff 10 balls. Two 4’s and a 6’s added salt to injury to Indian wounds at it brought down the equation to 7 required of the last 6 balls.

The thing even turned ugly when the team was penalized for slow over-rate. As a result, 0ne extra fielder has to stay inside the 30-yard circle. As it is said, consequences were bound to occur. Asif Ali smashed Arshdeep straight down the wicket for four runs. While Pakistan looed to stretch for the home run, Arshdeep dented the party with a slow Yorker. As a result, the umpire declared Asif Ali LBW. But the train had already left the station in the pin ultimate ball of the match Iftikhar scored a couple to see Pakistan home and beat India by five wickets. With this win, Pakistan registered their 1st win and increase their chances of qualifying for the finals.

Next, India will play Sri Lanka on the 6th of September at the Dubai International Stadium. While Sri Lanka would look to book a place in the final, India is on a must-win road to survive in the competition to reach the finals.