Match Details
- Fixture: Pakistan vs India
- Date: 23 February 2024
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE
- Time: 2:00 pm (PST), 2:30 pm (IST)
Teams Overview
Pakistan Overview
The defending champions will look to regain their footing after an inconsistent run. Despite having world-class players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s unpredictability has often cost them crucial matches. The injury to Fakhar Zaman is a big blow, but they will hope that Imam-ul-Haq can step up.
Strengths:
- A formidable pace attack led by Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah
- Experienced batters in Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
- Strong record in ODI series on the road
Concerns:
- Unsettled middle order
- Off-field instability affecting team morale
- Inconsistent performances in high-pressure games
India Overview
The Men in Blue enter as tournament favorites, fueled by their recent T20 World Cup triumph and a dominant ODI series win over England. Rohit Sharma’s squad boasts a deep batting lineup, experienced all-rounders, and a lethal spin trio.
Strengths:
- A balanced batting lineup with match-winners like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill
- A spin-heavy attack suited for Dubai conditions
- Recent momentum and consistency in big tournaments
Concerns:
- Injury to Jasprit Bumrah, missing a key pacer
- Over-reliance on top-order batters
- Pressure of facing arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-stakes game
Key Players to Watch
Pakistan
- Babar Azam – Pakistan’s best ODI batter; key for anchoring the innings.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi – Can dismantle India’s top order with early wickets.
- Mohammad Rizwan – Captain and consistent performer under pressure.
- Haris Rauf – A genuine wicket-taker in the middle overs.
India
- Virat Kohli – Loves playing against Pakistan and thrives in big games.
- Shubman Gill – In top form with a century in the opener.
- Kuldeep Yadav – A crucial asset on a spin-friendly Dubai pitch.
- Mohammed Shami – Expected to lead India’s pace attack in Bumrah’s absence.
Head-to-Head Record in Champions Trophy
- Total Matches: 5
- India Wins: 2
- Pakistan Wins: 3
Last meeting: Pakistan defeated India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final by 180 runs.
Pitch Report – Dubai International Stadium
- Nature: Balanced pitch with something for both pacers and spinners.
- Batting: Runs are available for batters who settle in, but early movement for pacers.
- Bowling: Spinners will come into play in the middle overs, while seamers may extract bounce under lights.
- Average First Innings Score: 250-270
- Chasing vs Defending: Teams batting first have won 55% of ODIs at this venue.
Live Streaming
India:
- TV Channel: Sony Pictures Network (Specific channel to be announced)
- Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website
Pakistan:
-
- TV Channel: Asports
- Live Streaming: Tamasha App, Tapmad
Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan XI (Probable)
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk)
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel
- Salman Ali Agha
- Khushdil Shah
- Faheem Ashraf
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Haris Rauf
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
Changes: Imam-ul-Haq replaces injured Fakhar Zaman.
India XI (Probable)
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill (vc)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Harshit Rana
- Axar Patel
