India fast bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya got the first breakthrough for the Rohit Sharma-led side in their second Champions Trophy 2025 clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan were looking steady as Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq were playing calculated cricket.
Babar who smashed a half-century during his last outing against New Zealand started smashing the bowlers as he scored 23 off 26 when Hardik dragged the length back slightly and kept it outside off, with no real movement. Babar pushed at it thinking the cover drive was on, and got an edge that KL Rahul picked the ball by getting low to his right. Hardik with a bit of 'bye bye' send-off gesture to his counterpart. The video of Hardik went viral on social media in no time. Here's the clip.
Coming back to match, India got back in the game after Hardik's wicket Axar Patel's direct hit during 10 over costed another wicket to Pakistan as Imam-ul-Haq got out.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat against India at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.
Playing XIs
Pakistan (Playing XI): 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 (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav