[Watch]: Mohammad Rizwan’s Shoulder Bump On Harshit Rana Sparks Tension During IND vs PAK Clash

Few rivalries in the world of sports can match the sheer intensity of an India vs Pakistan cricket clash. The Champions Trophy 2025 saw another thrilling chapter in this historic rivalry unfold at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 23.

Match Overview

This much-anticipated match saw Pakistan opting to bat first after winning the toss, looking to set a formidable target for India. However, the game had its fair share of drama, action, and a controversial on-field incident between Rizwan and Harshit.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to capitalize on a seemingly batting-friendly surface. The Men in Green made one change, bringing in Imam-ul-Haq in place of the injured Fakhar Zaman. On the other hand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma was unfazed by the toss outcome, backing his team’s ability to chase. India fielded the same XI that had successfully defeated Bangladesh in their tournament opener.

Pakistan’s Batting Performance

Pakistan got off to a solid start with Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq forming a 43-run partnership. The duo played cautiously but ensured a steady flow of runs against India’s pace attack. The momentum shifted quickly as Hardik Pandya struck gold, dismissing Babar Azam. Babar, attempting a drive, edged the ball straight into the gloves of KL Rahul. In the very next over, Imam was run out due to a mix-up, leaving Pakistan in trouble.

Rizwan and Shakeel Rebuild

After the early setbacks, captain Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel dug in to stabilize the innings. Their calculated aggression helped Pakistan recover, with Rizwan leading from the front.

Rizwan-Harshit Collision – A Heated Moment

The most talked-about moment of the match came in the 21st over when Rizwan and Indian pacer Harshit Rana collided while running between the wickets. Rizwan, attempting a quick single, accidentally barged into Harshit. The Indian bowler was visibly irritated, raising his arms in frustration.

Middle Order Contributions

Saud Shakeel played an instrumental knock, keeping Pakistan’s scoreboard ticking. However, regular wickets in the middle overs prevented them from setting an overly dominant target.

Harshit rana and Mohammad Rizwan shoulder to shoulder…. its heating in dubai🥵🥵#INDvsPAK #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/N9kucdOJwF

— Rahul Karki (@Rahulkarki417) February 23, 2025

Pandya’s early breakthrough set the tone for India’s bowling attack. His disciplined line and length, combined with subtle variations, kept Pakistan in check. The spinners, led by Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, choked Pakistan’s middle order. Their tight bowling restricted Pakistan’s big hitters from accelerating.

Both Skippers During the Toss

“Will bat first, looks like a good surface. Want to put up a good target. Every match is important in ICC events, we will keep things normal. The boys are familiar with these conditions, we have done well here and we want to do our best today. We lost our last game, but it is past for us now. One change – Fakhar is out, Imam is in,” Rizwan said at the toss.

“Doesn’t really matter, they won the toss so we’ll bowl first. Looks similar to the last game, the surface is on the slower side. We have an experienced unit in batting so we know what we need to do if the pitches get slower. Need an overall performance from the team – with bat and ball. The last game wasn’t an easy one for us, which is always nice. You want to be under pressure and test yourself. We are playing the same team,” Rohit said at the toss.