ISLAMABAD: India turned a high-voltage match against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy into a show of dominance, securing a comfortable victory over their arch-rivals in Dubai to top the Group A points table.
With a commanding all-round performance, Rohit Sharma‘s men outclassed Pakistan in all three categories, further cementing their credentials to lift the trophy on March 9.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan once again struggled, managing only 241 runs as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan were the only batsmen to show resistance, but their conservative approach ultimately cost the team. In reply, India relied on their big man of the match Virat Kohli to chase down the target, while Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill played crucial innings to guide their team to an easy victory.
This win not only ensures India’s place on the Group A points table but also secures their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
| Team | M | W | L | N/R | PT | NRR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.647 | |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +0.408 | |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.408 | |
| Pakistan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1.087 |
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The other semi-final in Group A could be decided tomorrow when New Zealand take on Bangladesh. A win for the Black Caps would likely see them join India in the knockout stages, officially knocking both Pakistan and Bangladesh out of the tournament after just two games.
