The much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 lived up to its billing as a high-octane encounter, but it was India who emerged victorious, defeating their arch-rivals by 6 wickets in Dubai. Virat Kohli’s masterful unbeaten century and a disciplined bowling performance from India sealed the win, leaving Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan to reflect on where his team fell short. In a candid post-match analysis, Rizwan pinpointed several key reasons for Pakistan’s defeat, offering insights into the challenges his team faced.
Reason 1: The toss advantage that didn’t translate
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that seemed logical given the conditions. However, Rizwan admitted that his team failed to capitalize on this advantage. Pakistan had aimed for a competitive total of 280 runs on what appeared to be a decent batting surface. However, their plans were derailed by India’s disciplined bowling attack, which kept the scoring in check and picked up crucial wickets at regular intervals.
“We won the toss, but we didn’t get the benefit of the toss,” Rizwan said in the post-match presentation.
The middle overs, in particular, proved to be Pakistan’s undoing. Rizwan acknowledged that the Indian bowlers executed their plans perfectly during this phase, stifling Pakistan’s momentum and preventing them from building partnerships.
“In the middle overs, their bowlers bowled very well and got our wickets,” he added, highlighting the pressure that ultimately led to Pakistan being restricted to a below-par total of 240.
Reason 2: Poor shot selection and missed opportunities
One of the most glaring issues for Pakistan were their batting approach, especially in the latter stages of their innings. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel had initially focused on stabilizing the innings, but their efforts were undone by what the skipper described as “wrong, poor shot selection.” This lack of composure under pressure allowed India to tighten their grip on the game.
Rizwan’s assessment was blunt: “They put us under pressure, and that’s why we were squeezed to 240.” The inability to accelerate in the death overs and the failure to capitalize on starts cost Pakistan dearly. While Shakeel’s polished fifty and Khushdil Shah’s cameo provided some respite, it wasn’t enough to set a challenging target for India.
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Reason 3: Fielding woes
If batting was one area of concern, fielding was another significant factor that contributed to Pakistan’s defeat. Rizwan didn’t mince words when he addressed the team’s fielding performance. Dropped catches, misfields, and missed run-out opportunities allowed India to gain the upper hand. In a high-stakes game like this, such errors can prove costly, and Pakistan paid the price. Rizwan’s emphasis on improving fielding standards underscores the importance of this aspect in modern cricket, where every run saved and every chance taken can make a difference.
“We need to improve in our fielding as well. We did a lot of mistakes in this match and the last match as well,” he stated.
Reason 4: India’s dominance with bat and ball
While Pakistan’s shortcomings played a role in their defeat, credit must also be given to India for their clinical performance. The Indian bowlers were “stunningly accurate,” as Rizwan put it, and their ability to maintain pressure throughout the innings was commendable. The likes of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Hardik Pandya kept the Pakistani batters in check, ensuring that the target remained within reach.
Chasing 242, India made the task look effortless, thanks to Kohli’s 51st ODI century and Shreyas Iyer’s composed half-century. Shubman Gill’s brisk start at the top of the order set the tone for the chase, and Kohli’s classy knock ensured there were no hiccups along the way. Rizwan acknowledged the brilliance of the Indian batters, particularly Kohli and Gill, who “took the game far away from us.”
A wake-up call for Pakistan
With this loss, Pakistan’s chances of progressing further in the tournament have taken a significant hit. As the hosts, the pressure was already on them to perform, and this defeat has exposed several areas that need urgent attention. Rizwan’s candid admission of the team’s shortcomings reflects a willingness to learn and improve, but time is running out.
The skipper’s message was clear, Rizwan said “Whenever you lose, it means you didn’t perform in all departments.” Pakistan’s batting, bowling, and fielding all fell short of the mark, and Rizwan’s hope is that the team can address these issues before their next game.
“Hopefully, we can work on them,” he concluded, emphasizing the need for a quick turnaround.
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