The face-off of India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 should be immensely followed worldwide by cricket fans this Sunday. It is regarded as one of the fiercest and historical rivalries in the game of cricket. Both teams go into the match in contrasting shapes. India is one win away from the Champions Trophy semi-finals, while Pakistan is one defeat away from being on the verge of departure. India captain Rohit Sharma showed flashes of his former self against Bangladesh but couldn’t convert it into a sizeable score. Yuvraj Singh, on the other hand, is not bothered at all.
“Rohit Sharma does not matter to me whether he is in form or out of form. The match-winners will always find my support. In ODI cricket, he, alongside Virat Kohli, has been India’s biggest match-winner as a batsman in white-ball formats. If Rohit isn’t scoring but still gets some runs, then it would be dangerous for the opposition. If he’s in form, he will get his century in just 60 balls. His quality is that once he gets going, he is not just hitting fours; he is hitting sixes over the rope. Among the best players of the short ball too, he can hook a 145-150 kmph fast delivery ball without breaking a sweat. He always maintains a strike rate of 120-140, and on his day, he can win you the game single-handedly,” Yuvraj Singh said on Jio Hotstar.
He added that the occasion should favor Pakistan in the next India-Pakistan clash.
“I actually think that Pakistan has a slight advantage because they have a base in Dubai. They have played a lot of cricket over there and have a good understanding of the conditions. On the slow wickets, the Indian players and the Pakistani players are among the best, who have always played spin and well. You talk about match-winners, yes, I agree with Shahid Afridi that we have more match-winners. I think it doesn’t really matter—one player can still chase it even though they do not have as many match-winners. The India-Pakistan clash is not about match-winners alone; it is about living in the moment, adapting to the situation, and not letting expectations hinder you. The team that does this one better will win the game for their country.”
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq also said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the backbone of India.
“I don’t doubt that all the Indian players are very good. But Virat and Rohit find themselves in a different league. They have performed consistently for blatantly about 20 years; their impact on the team is massive. To early have them go-not a good difference in the Indian dressing room, and boom goes the morale of Pakistan. That does not mean that the other Indian players will collapse, they are very talented, but they are still blooming. Similarly, with Babar, when he gets out, it boosts the opposition bowlers, and Pakistan has felt the pressure in the dressing room. For Pakistan to win, the lower and middle order need to rise to the occasion. If India loses both Rohit and Virat early, Pakistan can be on top,” he said.
