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All eyes are on the high-octane clash between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy which is scheduled to be played in Dubai on Sunday, February 23. While Pakistan is the official host of the ICC event, India's matches, including any potential semi-final and final appearances, will be held in Dubai.
'Pakistan have an advantage over India because....': Yuvraj Singh
Leading up to this crucial encounter, former India's star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh feels that Pakistan holds a slight advantage over Rohit Sharma's brigade. He not only said it but also explained the rationale behind it. Yuvraj said that Pakistan have an established base in Dubai, a venue where they previously played their home matches during the period when they were unable to host international cricket in their own country. He said Pakistan have played a lot of cricket in Dubai and understands the conditions well, which is why they have an edge over India, heading into the all-important Champions Trophy clash at the Dubai International stadium.
"I actually think Pakistan have an advantage because they have a base in Dubai. They have played a lot of cricket there and understand the conditions well," Yuvraj said on JioHotstar's 'Greatest Rivalry Returns' program.
"You talk about match-winners--yes, I agree with Shahid Afridi that we have more match-winners. But I believe that even if Pakistan has fewer match-winners, one player can still take the game away. The India-Pakistan clash is not about match-winners alone; it's about playing in the moment, adapting to the situation, and not letting expectations overwhelm you. The team that does this better will win the game for their country," he added.
Pakistan's 2025 Champions Trophy campaign began with a setback against New Zealand, and a loss to India in their upcoming match might end their chances of progressing in the tournament as their hopes of making it to the semifinals still hang in the balance.
India, in contrast, started their campaign on a winning note, securing an emphatic six-wicket victory over Bangladesh. Shubman Gill's unbeaten century and Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul drove India towards victory line.
Notably, both India and Pakistan will be missing their key players for this crucial encounter. Pakistan will be without Fakhar Zaman due to injury, who was recently ruled out of the remainder of the Champions Trophy, while India continues to be without their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Talking about their head-to-head record, India and Pakistan have locked horns with each other in ODIs 28 times in UAE in which Men in Green have emerged winners 19 times while Men in Blue clinched the issue on nine occasions.
Also, Pakistan hold a stronger record against India in the Champions Trophy. Of the five encounters between the two teams in the tournament, Pakistan have emerged victorious in three, including a memorable win in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final.
