India-Pakistan cricket rivalry remains one of the most intense and closely followed in world cricket
Virat Kohli's incredible 51st century defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the Champions Trophy's fifth match at the Dubai stadium on Sunday.
Virat Kohli not only ended the match but also brought up his 51st century in the third ball of the 43rd over, sealing India’s victory.
Kohli finished off with a boundary, completing his 51st ODI century. Questions about his form were answered, and his performance against Pakistan gave a significant boost to India’s Champions Trophy campaign, putting them into the semi-finals.
Rizwan continued with Shaheen, who conceded 13 runs.
Hardik Pandya struck a boundary on the first ball, but was dismissed after attempting to pull the last delivery, with Shaheen picking up another wicket but conceding a lot of runs.
Khushdil Shah removed Shreyas Iyer after the latter had smashed a boundary. Iyer made 56 off 67 balls, including five boundaries and one six. Khushdil conceded six runs.
Haris Rauf conceded eight runs in the 38th over.
Abrar Ahmed wrapped up a superb spell, conceding just 28 runs in 10 overs. Shreyas Iyer completed his half-century.
Haris Rauf’s over was costly, conceding 11 runs, with Kohli particularly favouring him.
Abrar Ahmed bowled a good over, conceding only four runs.
Naseem Shah conceded six runs in the 34th over.
Abrar Ahmed came into the attack, conceding four runs.
Shreyas Iyer hit Khushdil Shah for a boundary on the first ball and another two runs in the third ball. Three dot balls followed in the over.
Salman Ali Agha made his debut for the day, conceding eight runs, including a six from Iyer.
Shreyas Iyer hit two consecutive boundaries off Khushdil Shah, and Shakeel dropped a catch in the final delivery.
Shaheen Shah Afridi conceded 10 runs, with the first ball going for a boundary.
Khushdil Shah bowled with accuracy, conceding just four runs.
Virat Kohli smashed a boundary off Naseem’s first delivery, reaching a classy fifty. Naseem conceded eight runs in the over.
Khushdil Shah bowled a tidy over, conceding just two runs.
Naseem Shah conceded two runs.
Abrar bowled a clinical over, conceding only a run.
Haris Rauf gave away five runs.
Abrar Ahmed conceded three runs.
Haris Rauf gave away six runs.
Abrar Ahmed gave away only two runs.
Haris Rauf conceded five runs.
Abrar Ahmed bowled another economical over, conceding just three runs.
Khushdil conceded six runs in the 17th over.
Abrar Ahmed conceded merely four runs.
Khushdil Shah bowled another tidy over, giving away two runs.
Abrar Ahmed bowled another tidy over, conceding three runs.
Haris Rauf went for runs, with Kohli smashing two boundaries off Rauf.
Abrar Ahmed bowled a great over, conceding just three runs.
Haris Rauf conceded just three runs.
Naseem Shah bowled a tidy over, conceding just one run.
Shaheen conceded another 14 runs, with the first ball going for a boundary.
Naseem bowled another decent over, conceding three runs.
Shubman Gill treated Shaheen with utter contempt, smashing him for three boundaries, as India mounted pressure on Pakistan with 14 runs in the over.
Naseem bowled a significant over, conceding just one run.
Shaheen bagged the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma after conceding a boundary.
Naseem Shah conceded six runs in the fourth over, with Rohit clubbing a boundary.
Shaheen Shah Afridi conceded eight runs.
In the second over, Naseem Shah faced Rohit Sharma, who continued his aggressive approach. After a couple of defensive shots, Rohit hit a powerful stroke over square leg for six.
Shaheen conceded two runs in his first over.
Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against arch-rivals India in the fifth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Pakistan all out for 234 as Khushdil's late resistance ends with a top-edged slog sweep.
Pakistan's innings ends at 234 all out. Khushdil and Haris Rauf hit sixes, but Rauf gets run out while trying to keep the strike.
Pakistan reaches 226/8 after 47.6 overs, struggling to accelerate in the death overs. Harshit Rana keeps it tight, conceding just five runs as Khushdil Shah and Haris Rauf fail to find boundaries.
Kuldeep Yadav strikes again as Pakistan loses Naseem Shah at 226/9. Kohli takes a low catch at long-on, while Haris Rauf plays out three dot balls to end the over.
Pakistan moves to 221/7 after 45.6 overs, with Khushdil and Naseem rotating the strike. Shami mixes up his lengths but misses the yorker as Pakistan adds seven runs in the over.
Pakistan reaches 214/7 after 44.6 overs, with Naseem Shah and Khushdil Shah rotating the strike. Kuldeep Yadav keeps it tidy, conceding just six runs in the over.
Naseem Shah edges one for four as Pakistan reaches 208/7 after 43.6 overs. Harshit Rana keeps it tight, conceding just six runs in the over.
Kuldeep Yadav strikes twice in an over, dismissing Agha Salman and Shaheen Afridi as Pakistan stumbles to 202/7. Khushdil Shah brings up 200, but Pakistan’s hopes of a big total fade.
Khushdil Shah launches a massive six over midwicket as Pakistan reaches 194/4 after 41.5 overs. Axar Patel keeps it tight, but singles rotate the strike as Pakistan gears up for the final push.
Pakistan is at 185/4 in their ICC Champions Trophy clash against India. Kuldeep Yadav kept it tight, conceding only singles in his over. Khushdil Shah survived a close LBW review, saved by the umpire’s call. With 10 overs left, Pakistan looks to accelerate.
Pakistan manages to add only a handful of runs in the over, with singles and cautious play dominating the proceedings. The lack of boundaries in the middle overs continues to put pressure on the batting side. With just 10 overs left, a strong finish is crucial to post a challenging total.
Pakistan adds seven runs in the over, thanks to a well-placed reverse sweep by Khushdil Shah that fetched three runs. However, with just 11 overs left, they still need a significant push to reach a competitive total. Salman Agha and Khushdil must take charge to accelerate the innings before the death overs.
Pakistan remains under pressure as Axar Patel delivers another tight over, conceding just three runs. Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah are rotating the strike, but boundaries have dried up. With just 12 overs left, Pakistan needs acceleration, yet with half the side back in the pavilion, they must balance aggression with caution.
Pakistan’s batting collapse continues as they lose their fifth wicket with just 167 runs on the board. Ravindra Jadeja struck with a brilliant delivery to bowl out Tayyab Tahir for just 4 runs, further denting Pakistan’s hopes of recovery. The scoring rate remains sluggish, with Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha struggling to build momentum. With only a few overs left, Pakistan faces an uphill battle to reach a competitive total.
Pakistan continues to tread cautiously as Axar Patel keeps things tight with his disciplined bowling. Tayyab Tahir and Salman Agha manage a few singles, but with wickets falling regularly, the pressure is mounting. The scoring rate remains under control for India, and Pakistan will need a big push in the final overs to post a competitive total.
Axar Patel struck a crucial blow for India in the 34th over, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan for 46 and breaking Pakistan’s steady partnership. Rizwan, looking to accelerate, stepped out to loft the ball over mid-on but completely missed the delivery, allowing Axar to rattle his stumps. Despite Rana’s earlier drop, India managed to remove Rizwan, restricting further damage. With the scoreboard reading 154/3, Agha Salman joined Saud Shakeel at the crease, as Pakistan now looks to rebuild and maintain momentum.
Pakistan added five runs in the 32nd over as Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan continued to build their partnership steadily. Shakeel played a couple of well-placed shots, including a two through square leg, while Rizwan rotated the strike. Axar Patel kept things tight, but with wickets in hand, Pakistan remains in a strong position to accelerate later in the innings.
Saud Shakeel brought up his half-century with a clever lap shot for four as Pakistan added eight runs in the 31st over. Rizwan and Shakeel rotated the strike well, keeping the scoreboard ticking against Jadeja. With wickets in hand, Pakistan looks set to accelerate in the final overs.
Saud Shakeel leads the charge with two boundaries off Kuldeep Yadav, bringing some much-needed momentum to Pakistan’s innings. Rizwan remains steady at the other end as the duo builds a solid partnership.
Ravindra Jadeja kept things tight, conceding just five runs, but Mohammad Rizwan finally broke the boundary drought with a well-timed sweep for four. The rest of the deliveries were cautiously played, as Pakistan continues to rebuild. At the end of 25 overs, Pakistan is 99/2, with Rizwan on 24 (53) and Saud Shakeel on 29 (45).
Kuldeep Yadav maintained control, giving away four runs in the over. Both Rizwan and Saud Shakeel rotated the strike with singles, but boundaries remained elusive. Rizwan survived a direct hit while completing a quick single. At the end of 24 overs, Pakistan is 94/2, with Rizwan on 20 (48) and Saud on 28 (44).
Ravindra Jadeja bowled a tight over, conceding just four runs. Saud Shakeel found a gap for three runs with a well-placed cut shot, while Rizwan added a single. India's disciplined spin attack continued to restrict Pakistan's scoring. At the end of 23 overs, Pakistan stands at 90/2, with Rizwan on 18 (44) and Saud on 26 (42).
Pakistan added four runs in a cautious over from Kuldeep Yadav. Rizwan and Saud rotated the strike with singles, but India's disciplined bowling and sharp fielding kept the scoring rate in check. A risky reverse sweep from Saud nearly led to a run-out, but Pakistan survived. At the end of 22 overs, Pakistan stands at 86/2, with Rizwan on 17 (42) and Saud on 23 (38).
A steady over for Pakistan as they add three runs to the total. Harshit Rana mixed his pace well, rushing Rizwan with a short delivery and keeping Saud in check with disciplined line and length. Rizwan managed to find gaps for a couple of singles, while Saud smartly guided one to sweeper cover. Pakistan continues to rebuild after early setbacks, with Rizwan on 15 and Saud on 21 at the end of 21 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav delivers a tight over, conceding just two singles while keeping Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel tied down. His variations in flight and spin trouble Rizwan, who struggles to find gaps, while Shakeel manages a sweep for a single. Kuldeep’s sharp turn and disciplined lines maintain the pressure on Pakistan’s batters.
Harshit Rana keeps it tight in the 19th over, conceding just three singles. Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan struggle to find boundaries as Rana varies his pace effectively. Shakeel manages a couple of singles with aerial but safe shots, while Rizwan drives and clips without piercing the field. The Indian bowlers maintain control, keeping the pressure on Pakistan’s batters.
Axar Patel delivers a tight over, conceding just two singles. Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan find it difficult to score freely as Axar maintains a disciplined line and length. Shakeel manages a single to deep square leg, while Rizwan rotates strike with a run to point. The rest of the deliveries are well-defended, keeping the pressure on the batters.
Hardik Pandya delivers a disciplined 17th over, giving away just two runs. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel find it tough to break free against India's tight bowling.
Saud Shakeel breaks the boundary drought in Axar Patel’s 16th over, scoring Pakistan’s first four in 32 balls. Pakistan adds seven runs as Rizwan and Saud rotate the strike, but India keeps control with tight bowling.
Hardik Pandya delivers a controlled 15th over, allowing just two runs. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel find it difficult to break free as India's precise bowling keeps them in check.
Shami maintains control in the 14th over, conceding just two runs. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel struggle to break free as India's tight lines keep the pressure on.
Hardik Pandya delivers a disciplined 13th over, conceding just one run. Saud Shakeel and Rizwan struggle to find gaps as India's precise bowling keeps the pressure on.
Shami in the 12th over, conceding just three runs. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel rotate the strike, but India maintains control with disciplined bowling.
Hardik Pandya keeps it tight in the 11th over, conceding just three runs. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel rotate the strike, but no boundaries come as India maintains pressure.
A sharp direct hit from Axar Patel sends Imam-ul-Haq back to the pavilion for 10 off 26 balls. His hesitation between the wickets proved costly as India secures their second breakthrough. Patel, already a key figure in India’s white-ball setup, showcases his sharp reflexes in the field. Pakistan now finds itself at 44/2 after 10 overs.
India lands a crucial breakthrough as Hardik Pandya removes Babar Azam, shifting the momentum. Saud Shakeel walks in to replace the skipper. ESPN Cricinfo praises Pandya’s impact, calling him a game-changer. Pakistan stands at 41/1 after nine overs.
Axar Patel replaced Harshit Rana, but Pakistan's captain didn't hold back. Babar Azam stepped out and lofted the spinner over long-on for a commanding four. A couple of singles followed, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Pakistan moved to 37/0 after eight overs.
Hardik Pandya replaced Shami but struggled with his line, conceding India's eighth wide. Babar Azam found the gap on the fifth ball, adding five runs in an otherwise tight over. Pakistan moved to 31/0 after seven overs.
India tightened the screws in the sixth over, allowing just a single run as their bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length. The Pakistani batters, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, found it difficult to rotate the strike, with the Indian fielders cutting off any scoring opportunities. A watchful approach from Pakistan, but India’s pacers are building pressure with every dot ball.
Harshit Rana tightened his line in his third over, troubling Imam-ul-Haq with extra bounce and movement outside off stump. The left-hander struggled to connect with a few deliveries but managed to add three runs to the total, keeping Pakistan steady at 25/0 at the end of five overs.
The first boundaries of the innings came off Babar Azam’s bat in Harshit Rana’s second over. The Pakistan skipper found the gaps beautifully, dispatching the ball to the covers and long-on for two classy fours. The newsroom celebrated cautiously, hoping the momentum would continue. With eight runs coming from the over, Pakistan moved to 22/0 after four overs.
Imam-ul-Haq tried to find gaps but was restricted by a slow outfield, which denied him boundaries. However, he managed to run two doubles, adding four runs to the total. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the stadium remained electrifying, with Indian fans loudly cheering for their team. BBC’s Aatif Nawaz noted Pakistan’s challenge of adapting to different pitch conditions in the tournament.
From the other end, seamer Harshit Rana took charge and conceded four runs in his first over. Babar Azam got off the mark with a couple, while Imam added a single to the total. A wide delivery further contributed to Pakistan’s score, bringing the total to 10/0 after two overs.
India handed the new ball to Mohammad Shami, their star pacer from the last game against Bangladesh, where he bagged a five-wicket haul. As he charged in for the first delivery, the crowd erupted with chants of "India, India." Imam-ul-Haq took strike and, along with Babar Azam, ensured a steady start, picking up six runs from the opening over.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav.
Head-to-head record
Pakistan hold the upper hand in ODIs, having won 73 of the 135 matches played between the two sides, while India have claimed victory on 57 occasions. Five matches have ended without a result.
Overall ODI record:
Matches Played: 135
Pakistan Won: 73
India Won: 57
No Result: 5
In the Champions Trophy, the head-to-head record also favours Pakistan, who have won three out of five encounters.
Champions Trophy record:
Matches Played: 5
Pakistan Won: 3
India Won: 2
Pakistan seek redemption
Pakistan’s campaign in the tournament has been far from ideal, with the team losing both the home tri-series final and their opening match of the Champions Trophy. With Rizwan at the helm, the Green Shirts will be looking to make a strong statement against their fiercest rivals.
India, on the other hand, have been in formidable form, securing a convincing victory over Bangladesh in their opening match after a successful home series against England.
Recent form:
Pakistan: W, L, W, L, L
India: L, W, W, W, W
Pakistan’s last ICC encounter against India ended in disappointment, with a seven-wicket loss in the 2023 World Cup. The team will be eager to turn the tide and restore pride on the big stage.
Key battles: Pakistan’s pace vs India’s batting
Pakistan’s strength lies in its formidable pace attack, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf tasked with dismantling India’s star-studded batting lineup featuring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul.
However, the absence of Fakhar Zaman due to injury has disrupted Pakistan’s opening combination, with Imam-ul-Haq stepping in alongside Babar Azam. The team will also be hoping for a strong middle-order performance to post a competitive total.
Spin, however, remains a concern for Pakistan, with Abrar Ahmed being the lone specialist spinner. On a surface that could assist slow bowlers later in the match, the lack of an additional spinner might prove to be a tactical disadvantage.
The India-Pakistan rivalry has produced several unforgettable moments in the Champions Trophy, with Pakistan’s emphatic 180-run victory in the 2017 final at The Oval standing out as their crowning glory.
At neutral venues, Pakistan also hold a slight edge, having won 40 matches compared to India’s 34.