India Handles Tough Situations Well, Pakistan Faces Many Challenges: Irfan Pathan

Published on: February 22, 2025

India Handles Tough Situations Well, Pakistan Faces Many Challenges: Irfan Pathan

India vs Pakistan: Irfan Pathan Highlights India’s Edge Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 Clash

The much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 fixture between India and Pakistan is set to take place on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The match is expected to be a high-voltage encounter, given the historic rivalry between the two cricketing giants. Ahead of this crucial game, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his thoughts on both teams, highlighting India’s superior ability to handle pressure and their overall edge over Pakistan.

India’s Strength in Handling Pressure Situations

Pathan emphasized that one of India’s biggest strengths in recent years has been their ability to remain calm and composed in high-pressure situations. According to him, this quality sets India apart from Pakistan and could be the defining factor in the upcoming contest.

“What we have seen in the recent past with the Indian team, we know how to handle a tough situation and the big occasion as well,” Pathan stated.

He further elaborated that India’s squad possesses a winning mentality and has proven time and again that they can perform under immense pressure. The ability to stay composed, especially in crucial tournaments like the Champions Trophy, has helped India dominate in global events.

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Pakistan’s Struggles and Tactical Shortcomings

While discussing Pakistan’s current state, Pathan pointed out the challenges within their squad. He highlighted that Pakistan’s senior players have not adapted to the modern, aggressive style of white-ball cricket, which has become a necessity in contemporary cricket.

“When it comes to Pakistan, look, they have plenty of problems in the team. As far as some of the senior guys are concerned, they don’t play that kind of aggressive modern-day cricket, especially in white-ball cricket. So, can they change it? It’s very difficult,” Pathan said.

This suggests that Pakistan’s approach remains outdated compared to teams like India, who have successfully adapted to fast-paced, aggressive cricket. Pathan also noted that Pakistan’s inconsistent performances make it harder for them to execute strategies effectively against top-tier opponents.

India’s Depth and Balanced Squad Give Them the Upper Hand

Pathan believes that India not only possesses immense talent but also has a well-balanced squad with strong all-round abilities. He particularly praised the variety in India’s bowling attack and the contributions from all-rounders like Axar Patel.

“As far as the talent is concerned, we are far ahead, especially in one-day cricket. We (India) have good all-round abilities in the team as well. Axar (Patel) is picking up wickets, and we have a lot of options as well,” he added.

With India boasting world-class batters, bowlers, and all-rounders, their squad appears to have greater flexibility and depth than Pakistan’s. Pathan’s assessment suggests that India can adapt better to different match conditions, giving them a significant edge over their arch-rivals.

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Shubman Gill’s Form and Rohit-Virat’s Influence

One of the biggest positives for India ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash is the form of their top-order batters. Shubman Gill has been in exceptional form, and Pathan believes his presence at the top will be a huge advantage.

“Hopefully, that momentum will be carried… Shubman is in tremendous form,” he remarked.

Pathan also mentioned that if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue scoring consistently, India will be an unstoppable force in the tournament.

“Once Rohit and Virat keep scoring runs consistently, this team will be unstoppable,” Pathan stated.

With an experienced duo like Rohit and Virat in the batting lineup, India’s top order remains one of the most formidable in world cricket. Their ability to anchor innings and accelerate when required makes them invaluable assets for the Indian team.

Mohammed Shami’s Impact and the Bowling Attack

Apart from the batting department, India’s bowling attack has also been in terrific form.
Mohammed Shami’s recent five-wicket haul against Bangladesh has provided a major boost to the team’s confidence.

“Good to see Mohammed Shami get a fifer. He will get a lot of confidence out of it as well because after injury, coming back on the field is not easy, especially for fast bowlers. But he did well,” Pathan noted.

Shami’s ability to strike early with the new ball and deliver in high-pressure scenarios adds an extra edge to India’s pace attack. Alongside Shami, the presence of bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj makes India’s bowling unit a lethal force.

India’s Winning Start vs Pakistan’s Early Setback

India’s Dominant Performance Against Bangladesh

India kick-started their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a dominant six-wicket win over Bangladesh. The victory was set up by a brilliant century from Shubman Gill, who led the run chase in style. KL Rahul also played a crucial role with the bat, ensuring that India chased down Bangladesh’s total of 229 runs comfortably.

Mohammed Shami was the star with the ball, picking up five wickets, which restricted Bangladesh from posting a bigger total. This all-around performance further showcased India’s ability to control matches and finish them clinically.

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Pakistan’s Disappointing Loss to New Zealand

On the other hand, Pakistan had a disastrous start to their campaign, suffering a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in Karachi. The Kiwis put up a massive total, thanks to centuries from Tom Latham (118) and Will Young (107)*, while Glenn Phillips chipped in with 61 runs.

In response, Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed under pressure, and they were bowled out for 260 runs, failing to chase down New Zealand’s total.

To make matters worse, Pakistan suffered a major blow as opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the tournament due to an oblique tear, with Imam-ul-Haq replacing him in the squad. Losing an experienced opener like Zaman has further weakened Pakistan’s already struggling batting lineup.

Pakistan in a Must-Win Situation

With only two teams from each group qualifying for the semifinals, Pakistan is already under immense pressure to secure a win against India. Having lost to New Zealand, another defeat could seriously damage their chances of progressing in the tournament.

Given India’s current form and their ability to perform under tough situations, Pathan believes that Rohit Sharma’s team has the upper hand. If Pakistan fails to bring their best game to the field, India could easily dominate the much-anticipated encounter.

Final Thoughts: Will India Continue Their Dominance?

With India in excellent form and Pakistan struggling with consistency, Irfan Pathan’s assessment suggests that India is the clear favorite heading into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash.

While Pakistan still has the potential to pull off a surprise, their batting woes, lack of adaptability, and team management issues make it an uphill battle against a well-oiled Indian unit.

As cricket fans around the world eagerly await this high-stakes match, all eyes will be on how both teams handle the pressure of this iconic rivalry. Will India’s calmness and superior squad depth prove decisive? Or will Pakistan rise to the occasion and stage an upset? February 23 will reveal all.