New Delhi: Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that the upcoming India-Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy will be a one-sided contest, with Rohit Sharma’s men having a significant advantage over their arch-rivals. The high-stakes encounter is set to take place on February 23 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Harbhajan downplayed the hype surrounding the match, citing Pakistan’s inconsistent performances in the recently concluded Tri-Nation Series featuring New Zealand and South Africa. Pakistan suffered two defeats against the Kiwis—one in the group stage and another in the final—both of which were played on home soil in Lahore and Karachi. Their only victory came against South Africa, where they successfully chased a 353-run target in Karachi.
"This India-Pakistan match is often overhyped, but when you analyze the current form, there’s little competition," Harbhajan remarked on his YouTube channel. "India is a well-balanced and strong team, whereas Pakistan recently lost a home series to New Zealand. They have been highly inconsistent, and if you compare individual player performances, it becomes evident who holds the upper hand."
The former off-spinner pointed out that Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam, struggled in the Tri-Nation Series and described the Mohammad Rizwan-led team as inexperienced.
"Statistics are based on past performances, and while no one can predict the future, the difference between these two teams is quite visible. India looks well-prepared and mature, whereas Pakistan seems to lack experience. Babar and Rizwan are their key batters, but even in bowling, they haven’t been at their best," he added.
Analyzing individual records, Harbhajan noted Babar Azam’s average against India stands at 31, while Mohammad Rizwan averages 25. The only Pakistani batter with an impressive record against India is Fakhar Zaman, who averages 46 and has the ability to turn the game around for his team.
He further highlighted the poor records of Pakistan’s lower-order batters, such as Faheem Ashraf (12.5) and Saud Shakeel (8), against India. On the other hand, he emphasized the strong form of Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, and KL Rahul.
"India’s batting unit is rock solid. Rohit and Gill are in top form, Axar Patel is also performing well, and even though Virat Kohli hasn’t been at his peak, he recently scored a half-century against England. I expect him to shine in the Champions Trophy. KL Rahul has also been consistent," Harbhajan stated.
Discussing the upcoming Champions Trophy opener on February 19, where Pakistan will face New Zealand, Harbhajan predicted another tough outing for the Men in Green.
"New Zealand has already figured out how to tackle Pakistan, and I expect them to dominate again in the first match of the tournament. When it comes to the India-Pakistan game, I strongly believe it will be one-sided, with India being far ahead in terms of strength and form," the 44-year-old added.
Before concluding, Harbhajan also compared the batting averages of Indian players against Pakistan, noting that Virat Kohli averages 52, Shreyas Iyer 67, Rohit Sharma 51, and Hardik Pandya an impressive 69. He pointed out that Indian bowlers also hold superior records against Pakistan’s batting lineup.
The last two India-Pakistan encounters in major tournaments saw India emerging victorious. In the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, India secured a thrilling nine-run win, while in their last ODI meeting during the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, India outclassed Pakistan by seven wickets.
As the much-anticipated Champions Trophy approaches, all eyes will be on whether Pakistan can defy the odds or if India will continue their dominant run in one of cricket’s most celebrated rivalries.
