Harshit Rana’s costly drop of Mohammad Rizwan at a crucial juncture left Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma visibly frustrated during the high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Rizwan, along with Saud Shakeel, had already put India under pressure with a solid 100-run partnership.
With the match slipping away, India desperately needed a breakthrough. The perfect opportunity came in the 33rd over when Hardik Pandya bowled a 130.2 kph delivery. Rizwan, looking to take on the full-length ball, stepped down the track but mistimed his shot, sending the ball high into the Dubai sky.
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Harshit Rana, positioned at midwicket, sprinted sideways and timed his jump well, getting both hands on the ball. However, in a moment of despair for India, the young pacer failed to hold onto the catch. As the ball slipped through his fingers, Pandya couldn’t hide his frustration, while Rohit Sharma stood in disbelief, knowing how crucial Rizwan’s wicket could have been in turning the game around.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 23, 2025
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 23, 2025
At the toss, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan opted to bat first, backing his team’s familiarity with the conditions. “It looks like a good surface, and we want to bat. Every ICC match is important, and we’ve done well at this venue. One change: Imam replaces Fakhar.”
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Indian captain Rohit Sharma, however, remained confident in his decision to bowl first. “The pitch looks similar to our last game and might slow down later. It’s a great opportunity to test ourselves under pressure. We’re sticking with the same team.”
With missed chances and mounting pressure, the India-Pakistan clash was already living up to its billing as a thrilling contest.
