In a surprising revelation, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan expressed his wish for Pakistan to beat India in their much-anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai on Sunday.
With Pakistan battling to keep its title defense alive after a 60-run defeat to New Zealand, Wassan believes a Pakistani victory would add excitement to the tournament.
🗣️ “I want Pakistan to win because it will be fun, tournament-wise. If Pakistan wins, then it becomes a contest. There should be an equal fight,” Wassan told media.
🇮🇳 India’s Strong Start & Squad Analysis
While Pakistan stumbled in its opener, India cruised past Bangladesh with a six-wicket win. Wassan praised India’s batting depth and the decision to pick a spin-heavy attack suited to Dubai’s conditions.
🔎 Wassan on India’s XI:
✅ Batting depth: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Axar Patel batting till No. 8.
✅ Spin arsenal: Five spinners, including Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, ideal for Dubai pitches.
🏏 Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. 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.
🏆 Why This Match Matters:
🔸 Pakistan faces elimination pressure after opening loss.
🔸 India looks to maintain winning momentum.
🔸 Wassan’s comments reflect the desire for a competitive tournament.
🔥 India vs Pakistan encounters are always high-octane, and with Pakistan’s campaign on the line, expect fireworks in Dubai!