New Delhi: With just eight days to go until the start of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the excitement among the fans is palpable. The marquee ICC tournament, which is making a comeback after seven years, will kick off with the clash between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi.
Pakistan, the defending champions, are co-hosting the event with Dubai, which will stage all matches of the Champions Trophy 2025 involving India, including one of the semi-finals and possibly the final, if India qualify for the summit clash.
While all the matches will be high-octane, the Pakistan vs India match will be the show stealer in the tournament. India and Pakistan, who are pooled in Group B with Bangladesh and New Zealand, will face off on February 23 in Dubai. The much-anticipated clash will witness the most heated rivalry reignited on the big stage. India who were beaten in the 2017 CT final will be aiming to take revenge on the defending champions.
Ahead of the marquee clash, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has been part of several fierce contests between the two sides, predicted that India will dominate Pakistan in Dubai on February 23.
Harbhajan, who is in the UAE as a commentator for the ILT20, has seen the pitches in the desert city closely told ANI, that the team that adjusts better to the conditions will have an upperhand. He also said that India will have an edge of Pakistan, since Rohit Sharma and his team will be playing all their matches in the UAE.
Harbhajan on Bumrah
India are sweating over the fitness of their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has not bowled since the first innings of the Sydney Test between India and Australia during the first week of January. The star Indian pacer is undergoing rehabilitation in the National Cricket Academy at Bangalore and is facing race against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy.
According to Harbhajan, no one can replace a bowler like Bumrah, but India have many young bowler and the Champions Trophy could prove to be a good opportunity for them.
Harbhajan on Varun Chakravarthy
Harbhajan Singh has seen mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy closely during their time together with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Harbhajan played for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL). Owing to his strong performances in T20I cricket and on his ODI debut, Varun has emerged as a strong contender for a place in India’s Champions Trophy squad. Harbhajan told ANI that Varun is ready to serve India and he can do with his spin, what Bumrah has been doing with his pace.
Ahead of the Champions Trophy meeting on February 23, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has predicted that India will dominate Pakistan in Dubai. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
