Ahead of the high-stakes India vs. Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam opted to skip the team’s final practice session. According to Express News, the session was optional, and Babar chose to take a rest day rather than participate in catching drills, as there were no net sessions scheduled. This decision comes at a time when he is under scrutiny, not for a lack of runs, but for his slow scoring rate.
In Pakistan’s tournament opener against New Zealand, Babar played a sluggish 64-run innings off 90 balls, which contributed to his team’s failure to chase down a daunting 320-run target. The hosts ultimately lost by 60 runs, putting them in a must-win situation against their arch-rivals, India.
Pakistan’s Struggles and the Dependence on Babar
Pakistan’s performance in the opening game raised concerns, particularly in their bowling department. New Zealand’s Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (117) tore through Pakistan’s bowling attack, which included pace specialists Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf.
In response, Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled with a slow-paced innings, failing to match the required run rate. Despite late resistance from Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah, the team was bowled out for 260. The situation worsened with the loss of their specialist openers—Saim Ayub, who was ruled out before the tournament, and Fakhar Zaman, who sustained an injury in the first match. With limited options at the top of the order, Pakistan now heavily relies on Babar Azam to deliver a strong performance against India.
Do-or-Die Clash Against India
Pakistan’s defeat to New Zealand has made their upcoming match against India a must-win to keep their Champions Trophy knockout hopes alive. With questions surrounding Babar’s strike rate and the team’s overall form, the spotlight is now on the captain to step up when it matters most.
The game is set to be a high-pressure encounter, with fans and analysts closely watching Pakistan’s approach. If Babar can accelerate his scoring and lead from the front, it could turn the tide for his team in this crucial fixture. However, failure to secure a win would likely end Pakistan’s campaign in the tournament.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
