Pakistan Captain Accepts Champions Trophy 2025 Exit; Dissects Humiliating Defeat vs India

With two successive defeats in the first five days of the Champions Trophy 2025, the story for Pakistan in the event is almost over. At least, they won’t qualify in their hands. They will now hope for multiple results to go in their favor besides their potential victory over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.

The Green Brigade entered a mouth-watering clash against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after their 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the competition’s opening clash at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Pakistan faces humiliating six-wicket defeat vs India

Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, winning the toss, decided to bowl first on a slow surface, expecting the dew to arrive later in the evening. After a decent opening stand of 41 runs between Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, they lost both the openers back-to-back before Rizwan and Saud Shakeel put up a 104-run stand between them for the third wicket.

Also Read: Watch: India Dismisses Babar Azam Cheaply!! Gives Brutal Send-off In Champions Trophy 2025

Most of the batters in the middle overs got set but failed to capitalize on those scores. Shakeel returned to the pavilion for 62 runs in 76 deliveries, while Salman Agha returned to the dressing room for 19 runs. Khusdil Shah stayed till the end for his 38 runs in 39 balls to carry the defending champions to 241 in 49.4 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel shared five wickets between them for 129 runs in 26 overs at an economy of five.

India never looked away from the chase. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, displayed his aggressive batting to keep the Pakistan bowlers at bay. The 69-run stand between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli gave the blue brigade a winning platform before the latter carried the 2013 title winners close to victory with the 11-4-run partnership for the third wicket.

A last-ball boundary helped Kohli celebrate his 51st ODI century as they crossed the winning margin with six wickets in hand and nearly 50 balls to spare. With the win, India has almost booked their tickets for the semifinal.

“We can say for now it’s over”- Mohammad Rizwan

Pakistan's dependence on other results for the semifinal qualification in an ICC event is not new; it found itself in this position in 2025.

We can say for now that it is over. That is the truth. We'll see what Bangladesh does with New Zealand, then New Zealand with India, and then what we do. It's a long road, and it depends on other teams.” Mohammad Rizwan expressed during the post-match press conference after the defeat against India.

“As a captain, I don't like depending on others. If you are good enough, you show it by winning and keeping things in your hands. Waiting on other teams, I don't like worrying about their results. What matters is that India and New Zealand beat us. They played strong, and we didn't play well. If we get a chance [to sneak through], then so be it.” Pakistan’s captain added.

The Blackcaps’ victory against Bangladesh will confirm Pakistan’s third consecutive ICC white-ball event in which they have been dismissed before the knockouts.

Pakistan’s captain laments the loss of both specialist openers

Rizwan’s innings of 46 runs in 77 balls will come under scrutiny much in a way that it failed to grab the acceleration like Babar against the Kiwis. But he revealed that something around 280 on a slow surface would have been enough.

Also Read: Watch: India Displays Fielding Brilliance With Direct Hit To Dismiss Imam Ul Haq In Champions Trophy

“In our team meeting yesterday, we had said we'll target 270-280 on this, given the outfield was slow, the pitch was slow. If we'd got 280 the result might have been different. Saud and I started building up a partnership, over which we took some time, but after that, our shot selection was poor.” Mohammad Rizwan mentioned.

Rizwan, besides pointing fingers at their fielding skill, lamented the loss of both Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman. The southpaws could have provided the Green Bride with some fiery starts.

“If we go with two genuine spinners, that means we are going with five bowlers and six batters, and we can't make a combo of that. So yeah, there will be questions about having another spinner, but you can't go in with five genuine bowlers in an ODI. Maybe in a T20.” Pakistan’s captain concluded.