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India have beaten Pakistan in their past in five of their previous six ODI meetings with...
Read More The Indian and Pakistan teams have made contrasting starts to their respective ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaigns. While Rohit Sharma’s men have launched their title bid with an impressive six-wicket win over Bangladesh, Mohammad Rizwan’s defending champions suffered a 60-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand. The two now square off against each other in what has the makings of a blockbuster clash given their historic rivalry.
Pakistan may have a better head-to-head record over India in ODIs but in recent times, it’s the Indian team that has proved to be the superior. Pakistan last win over India in an ODI was in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. Since then, India have beaten them in five of six meetings with one producing no result.
And former India allrounder Irfan Pathan feels India will continue to have the edge over Pakistan since the latter have ‘plenty of problems’ as some of their experienced players aren’t adept at playing the ‘aggressive brand’ of modern-day cricket. “When it comes to Pakistan, look, they have plenty of problems in the team," Pathan told PTI Videos on Friday. “As far as some of the senior guys (are concerned), they don’t play that kind of aggressive modern day cricket, especially in white-ball cricket.
So, can they change it? It’s very difficult." “But more than the weaknesses and the strengths, it’s all about the India-Pakistan occasion. Whoever handles the occasion really well, that team wins," he added.
Pathan feels that the Indian team is more equipped in dealing pressure situation and has far more talented ODI players than Pakistan. “What we have seen in the recent past with the Indian team, we know how to handle a tough situation and the big occasion as well. As far as the talent is concerned, we are far ahead, especially in one-day cricket," he said.
Pathan pointed out India’s all-round prowess. The Indian team has as many as three allrounders in their squad including Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar “We (India) have good all-round abilities in the team as well. Axar (Patel) is picking up wickets and we have a lot of options as well.
Hopefully that momentum will be carried," he said. “Shubman (Gill) is in tremendous form and once Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) keep scoring runs consistently, this team will be unstoppable," he added..
