New Delhi: India is taking on Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy match at the Dubai International Stadium. After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bat but suffered early setbacks. Babar Azam’s struggles continued as he was dismissed for 23 by Hardik Pandya, caught by KL Rahul, while Imam Ul Haq also fell cheaply, giving India the early advantage. India bowled out Pakistan for 242 runs, with Kuldeep Yadav leading the bowling attack. He was the standout performer, claiming three wickets for just 40 runs at an impressive economy rate of 4.4.
Imam Ul Haq was run out by Axar Patel for 10, leaving Pakistan in early trouble. The quick dismissals of Babar and Imam put Pakistan on the back foot, but captain Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel steadied the innings with a crucial century stand. Just as Pakistan looked ready to accelerate, they suffered twin setbacks—Rizwan (46) fell to Axar Patel, while Shakeel (62) was dismissed by Hardik Pandya. Ravindra Jadeja then removed Tayyab Tahir, further adding to Pakistan’s woes.
Shakeel’s wicket also marked a milestone for Hardik Pandya, taking his tally against Pakistan in ICC tournaments to 15—the most by any bowler. He surpassed Mitchell Starc, who has 11 wickets against Pakistan in ICC events.
Most Wickets vs Pakistan In ICC Matches
- Hardik Pandya – 15
- Mitchell Starc – 11
- Ashish Nehra – 10
- Ravindra Jadeja – 10
- Irfan Pathan- 9
This is a do-or-die match for Pakistan as they fight to stay alive in the tournament. A loss to India would severely dent their chances of making it to the semifinals. With India being a formidable chasing side, Pakistan will need a target of around 250 to stay competitive. However, the pitch is proving to be challenging for batting, and chasing could become difficult in the second innings. To post a fighting total, Pakistan will rely on Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah to build a solid partnership and stabilize the innings.
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