IND vs PAK Champions Trophy 2025: Three Key Lessons from the 2017 Final Loss
IND vs PAK: India has been a dominant force in white-ball cricket over the years, but ICC finals have not always been their strong point. Among the many heartbreaks, the Champions Trophy 2017 final loss to Pakistan still stings the most. A 180-run defeat in a high-stakes game after being the favorites? Thatโs tough to forget.
Since then, India has had the upper hand against Pakistan in ODIs, winning five of the last six encounters. But with another big showdown coming up on February 23 in Dubai, India must ensure they donโt repeat past mistakes.
1. Watch Out for Pakistanโs Fast Bowlers
In 2017, India had a batting lineup stacked with superstars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Yuvraj Singh, yet they were blown away by Mohammad Amirโs deadly spell.
Fast forward to 2025, and Indiaโs batting looks just as strong with Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer in top form. But Pakistanโs Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah are more than capable of causing problems. Dubaiโs pitch has been helpful for pacers, and Indiaโs batters will need to be extra cautious.
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2. Make a Smart Call at the Toss for IND vs PAK
Back in 2017, Virat Kohliโs decision to bowl first didnโt go as planned as Pakistan piled up 338/4, and India never recovered.
This time around, the toss will be just as crucial. Dubaiโs pitch has shown mixed behavior, and the absence of dew in recent matches means batting first could actually be a good option. India needs to analyze conditions carefully and not go by gut feeling alone.
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3. Get the Team Selection Right
India made some selection errors in the 2017 final, dropping Umesh Yadav despite his good form and picking Ravichandran Ashwin, who struggled with 0/70.
For 2025, the playing XI needs to be spot on. Arshdeep Singh or Varun Chakravarthy could be better choices than Harshit Rana or Kuldeep Yadav, depending on conditions. Sticking with a winning combination is tempting, but adjusting based on strategy could be the key to victory.
With the right approach ahead of the upcoming IND vs PAK, the Men in Blue can turn the tables and avoid another painful defeat in Dubai!
