Ex-Pakistan Opener Addresses India’s Weakness During Champions Trophy 2025 Encounter

Pakistan’s former opening batter, Ahmed Shehzad, addressed India’s issues before the mouth-watering clash on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United States of America (UAE). The Mohammad Rizwan-led side is coming into the game with a huge defeat.

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India got an opening victory against Bangladesh in Dubai, as their bowlers and batters earned success. Shubman Gill celebrated an unbeaten century, while Mohammed Shami picked up five wickets in the first innings.

Ahmed Shehzad slams India’s batting depth in Champions Trophy 2025

The combination of going with three all-rounders, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, has worked so far for the blue brigade. The all-rounders constitute the bulk of the spin department as well as the sixth bowling option, with a robust lower middle order. India’s management has kept Axar Patel at number five.

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The all-rounders always work on the balance of the side as they can fill for both the batters and bowlers, and they have been in tremendous form recently. There was a risk of the all-rounders getting exposed in the eight-team event, as they found out against Bangladesh before the unbeaten century, and the 47-run knock from KL Rahul carried them over the line.

“It will be important for India's top four to play 35-40 overs. You may go for attack early on, but if you lose three wickets inside the first 15 overs, then there are a lot of all-rounders lower down in India's line-up.” Pakistan’s former opening batter expressed on his YouTube channel.

Ahmed Shehzad opined that the all-rounders may struggle when required to bat for a long time in the event of a batting collapse.

“It (having all-rounders in the eleven) can work for you in T20Is, as Rohit Sharma says, it adds depth to the line-up. But the captain would know that if you lose early wickets in ODIs, you have to plan your innings; to reach the desired target, you need proper batters. That game-awareness the all-rounders may not have.” Pakistan’s former right-handed batter added.

Ahmed Shehzad gives this warning to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

Virat Kohli always loves playing against Pakistan as he has bailed the team out of trouble on most occasions. The right-handed batter has smashed 678 runs in 16 innings against the Green Brigade at an average of 52.15 and a strike rate of 100.30, shouldering on two fifties and three half-centuries.

Mohammad Shehzad has warned Rizwan’s army to be aware of Kohli for the mouth-watering clash.

“Virat Kohli played a good knock against England in tough conditions (52 in the third ODI at Ahmedabad). When you are short of runs and you come up with such innings, then your feet (movement), body language, all those things fall in place and help, which will be very good from Virat's point of view.” Ahmed Shehzad noted.

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“He is such a player who plays a magical innings in a big match. Remember how he snatched the match out of Pakistan's jaws last time.” Pakistan’s opener concluded.

Pakistan to bat against India

Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, won the toss and decided to bat first on a surface that might get slow in the second innings. They included Imam Ul Haq in place of the injured Fakhar Zaman.

Rohit Sharma wasn’t disappointed with the decision as he wanted to bowl. The blue brigade decided to retain the same eleven. A win for them will be enough to book a spot in the semifinal.