When Pakistan and India meet on the cricket field, it becomes more than just a game – a spectacle that captures the imagination of millions around the globe.
It brings an electrifying atmosphere, no matter which part of world it is being played in. The rivalry is one of the most-fierce and thrilling in the history of the sport.
Dubai will be witnessing similar scenes today (Sunday) when the two cricket giants square off in the Champions Trophy clash at the Dubai International Stadium.
There has been some classic encounters between the two arch-rivals in the Champions Trophy events before and the fans are expecting nothing less from there teams today.
India are coming into the match as the more dominant side. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the team has looked formidable, with a strong mix of experienced players and young talents. India's batting order, led by the inimitable Virat Kohli, has been one of the most consistent in world cricket.
With players like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya in their ranks, India's batting lineup has both depth and firepower. Though, they had Jasprit Bumrah setback before the tournament, the return of an in-form Mohammad Shami coupled with wily spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav give them an edge over Pakistan.
On the other hand, Pakistan continues to be inconsistent as they go into this must-win match. The team, under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan had a promising start in Australia and South Africa. However, with a couple of injuries and out of form Babar Azam, they look an average side.
Babar, who is one of the best batters in world cricket today, have been struggling for form. He played some exciting shots in his 64-run knock against New Zealand but was far from his best.
With Fakhar Zaman also out of the tournament due to injury, the team will be counting on captain Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha to repeat their grand act that they put on against South Africa in the tri-nation game last week.
Not only that, Pakistan are also struggling in the bowling department, too, with both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf going wicketless and conceding over 60 runs each in the tournament opener against the Black Caps in Karachi.
Lack of spinners is also a big concern for the Men in Green, who has only Abrar Ahmed as specialist in their ranks.
As far as head-to-head comparison goes, both team have met five times in the competition with Pakistan having a slight edge with three victories against India's two.
Key players
For India, Virat Kohli is the player everyone will be watching out for. Despite a slight dip in form in recent months, Kohli's class is undeniable, and he will be keen to prove that he's still one of the best players in the world. He will be looking to anchor the innings and score big when his team needs him the most.
India's pace bowling attack revolves around Shami. If Pakistan are to take on India's bowlers, they will need to contend with Shami's tricks on these tracks. Kuldeep can also trouble the Pakistan batters.
For Pakistan, all eyes will be on Babar Azam. Considered as Pakistan's batting back-bone, he has the ability to turn a match around on his own, and if he gets going India's bowlers will have a tough task at hand.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan's ability to play under pressure will be critical to Pakistan's chances.
In the bowling department, Shaheen Afridi is Pakistan's biggest weapon despite his chequerd form of late.
His ability to swing the ball both ways, particularly with the new ball, could cause India's top order a lot of problems early on. Haris Rauf, with his express pace, is another key figure who could change the course of the match with his sheer pace and aggression.
Regardless of who comes out on top, the match is set to be a thrilling contest that will have fans on the edge of their seats.
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