NEW DELHI: Cricket’s fiercest rivalry will take center stage on Sunday as India face Pakistan in a high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy clash at the Dubai International Stadium. With a packed 25,000-strong crowd and millions watching worldwide, the pressure is on, especially for Pakistan, whose title defense hangs by a thread.
Due to political tensions, the two teams only meet in multi-nation tournaments, and this edition is no different. The match is being played in Dubai after India declined to travel to tournament hosts Pakistan.
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Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, suffered a heavy 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their opening match in Karachi. Another loss could virtually eliminate them from semi-final contention, while India, fresh off a six-wicket win over Bangladesh, are in a strong position.
With the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals, Pakistan must pull off a victory against their biggest rivals to stay in the hunt. However, history favours India in recent ODI encounters.
Head-to-Head ODI Record: India gaining the upper hand
In their long-standing ODI rivalry, Pakistan hold a slight edge, having won 73 out of the 135 encounters, while India have claimed victory in 57. Five matches have ended without a result.
However, India's dominance has been clear in recent years. Since 2010, they have won 12 out of 17 ODIs against Pakistan, with only four losses and one no-result.
Pakistan, however, have a marginal lead in Champions Trophy history, with a 3-2 head-to-head advantage. Their biggest triumph came in the 2017 final, where they crushed India by 180 runs.
Yet, India's record at the Dubai International Stadium suggests an advantage. The Men in Blue have won both their previous ODI encounters against Pakistan at this venue, making them favourites for Sunday’s showdown.
With history, form, and stakes at play, this clash promises to be another thrilling chapter in the India-Pakistan cricket saga.
