India defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets in the Champions Trophy match on Sunday, February 23, sending shockwaves of embarrassment through the Pakistan cricket team. The loss marks Pakistan’s second consecutive defeat and leaves them with a slim chance of staying in the competition.
Pakistan batted first but faltered after a great start, with Indian bowlers restricting their batsmen to just 241 runs. Kuldeep Yadav picked up three wickets, while Hardik Pandya added two more as India bundled out Pakistan’s team.
In response, India needed just over 50 overs to chase down the target, with Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill setting the tone for their side with a brilliant partnership. Shreyas Iyer also contributed, helping India keep attacking Pakistan’s bowlers.
Kohli sealed the win with his 51st hundred and the final runs, ensuring India’s victory. The defeat highlights the growing gap between Indian and Pakistani cricket teams, according to expert Sanjay Manjrekar.
“I see a widening gulf every time we play Pakistan,” Manjrekra said. “Indian cricket is growing while Pakistan’s decline is becoming more apparent.”
Irfan Pathan also expressed India’s superiority in ODI cricket, saying they are significantly ahead of Pakistan in terms of skill and fitness. With Pakistan facing an early exit from the competition, their final group game against Bangladesh on February 27 will be crucial.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/champions-trophy-india-vs-pakistan-mohammad-rizwan-babar-azam-dubai-2684389-2025-02-23