Mohammed Shami had a turbulent first over, struggling with his line five times and conceding five wides to Pakistan. As a result, the over stretched to 11 balls before he finally completed it. Shami appeared far from his usual sharp form. Midway through the fifth over, the physio rushed onto the field to assess him. His right ankle and calf were examined, and he looked visibly uncomfortable. Shortly after, Shami left the field, signaling trouble for India’s bowling attack. Shami is now back on the field. As per the latest reports, Pakistan were 61/2 in 14 overs, with Hardik Pandya taking the wicket of Babar Azam.

Pakistan Wins Toss, India Unchanged

Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bat first. Meanwhile, India fielded an unchanged XI with Rohit Sharma at the helm. Despite losing the toss, Rohit seemed unbothered, suggesting confidence in his team’s ability to bowl first. Shami and Harshit Rana opened the bowling attack against Pakistan’s top-order batsmen, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq.

The Clash Everyone Waits For

This is the big one—the fixture that fans from both nations circle on their calendars the moment tournament schedules are announced. The India-Pakistan clash is one of the most intense rivalries in cricket, perhaps even across all sports. As a result, millions tune in for this spectacle, making it the most highly anticipated contest on the global stage.

Contrasting Starts to the Tournament

Both teams arrived at this match with vastly different opening performances in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan had a tough start, suffering their third loss to New Zealand within a week. Their 60-run defeat exposed weaknesses in both bowling and batting, leaving them searching for momentum. On the other hand, India made a strong start against Bangladesh but briefly lost control before regaining composure in Dubai. However, a well-paced chase, highlighted by a century from Shubman Gill, gave them both confidence and momentum heading into this crucial encounter.