Former Indian cricketer Syed Kirmani believes India has the upper hand over Pakistan in the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 encounter.
Hyderabad [India], February 23: As the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between India and Pakistan draws near, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Syed Kirmani has weighed in on the contest, asserting that India holds the advantage over their arch-rivals.
The fixture, set to take place in Dubai, is crucial for both teams—Pakistan aims to keep its title defense alive, while India looks to inch closer to securing a semi-final berth. Adding to the intensity is the lingering memory of the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where Pakistan stunned India with a commanding 180-run victory.
Though Pakistan leads India 3-2 in Champions Trophy encounters, Kirmani believes the current Indian squad has what it takes to outshine their rivals.
“India Holds the Upper Hand” – Kirmani
Speaking about the significance of an India-Pakistan match, Kirmani acknowledged the worldwide attention the contest garners.
“This is the highlight of cricket in Commonwealth nations and even in European countries, where Indian and Pakistani expats are glued to their screens. Every Indian wants India to win, and every Pakistani wants Pakistan to win. But we surely have an upper hand,” Kirmani stated.
He emphasized that despite the pressure on India, fans should remember that cricket is ultimately a sport and should be enjoyed in the right spirit.
“Do not be emotional. This is a sport—you win some, you lose some. Enjoy the game, let the best team win,” he added.
India’s Strengths and Pakistan’s Challenge
Kirmani pointed out that the return to form of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is a major boost for India.
“We have a wonderful lineup of youngsters and experienced players. There should be no panic, pressure, or tension. India must take on this challenge in a sporting manner,” he said.
However, he also acknowledged Pakistan’s strengths, highlighting their promising young talents and their formidable bowling attack.
“Pakistan has been doing well too. They have some good young players coming up. Babar Azam may no longer be captain, but he remains a great source of inspiration. They also have some quality bowlers in their side,” he noted.
Caution Against Complacency
While India is seen as the stronger side, Kirmani warned against complacency.
“A stronger team should never be overconfident. There cannot be any complacency between India and Pakistan. This will be an exciting match,” he concluded.
Squads for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
With tensions high and stakes even higher, the India-Pakistan Champions Trophy showdown is set to be another historic chapter in their fierce cricketing rivalry.