Dubai, February 24, 2025 – The much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the group stage of the Champions Trophy 2025 (CT25) ended in disappointment for Pakistan as they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals. The loss has sparked intense criticism from former cricketers and experts, with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi delivering a scathing review of the team’s performance.
Afridi, known for his outspoken nature, expressed his frustration after Pakistan’s bowlers failed to contain Indian veteran Virat Kohli, who played a match-winning knock despite being in the twilight of his career. Speaking on a post-match analysis show, Afridi lamented Pakistan’s inability to control the legendary batter, stating, “We couldn’t even control Virat Kohli, who is near to his retirement. This shows the lack of planning, discipline, and execution from our bowlers.”
Kohli’s Masterclass and Pakistan’s Struggles
The 36-year-old Kohli, who has hinted at his possible retirement from international cricket after this tournament, once again rose to the occasion, scoring a crucial 80+ run knock to guide India to victory. Pakistan’s bowling attack, which was expected to pose a serious challenge under the lights in Dubai, looked lackluster and failed to break crucial partnerships.
Afridi criticized the team’s approach, emphasizing that they lacked a proper game plan against an experienced player like Kohli. “Virat is not the same young player he was a few years ago. He is at the end of his career, but we still couldn’t build pressure on him. It is very disappointing to see such an effort from our bowlers,” Afridi added.
Bowling Concerns for Pakistan
Pakistan’s bowling, traditionally considered their strength, looked off-color as India comfortably chased down the target. Despite having quality pacers, they failed to exploit the conditions, allowing Kohli and the Indian batting lineup to dominate. Afridi pointed out that there was a clear lack of aggression and strategic planning.
“I don’t see the intent in our bowlers. When you play against India, you need to be mentally strong and aggressive. We made it too easy for them. If we cannot even trouble an aging Kohli, how do we expect to win against younger, more aggressive batters?” he questioned.
What’s Next for Pakistan?
With this defeat, Pakistan now faces a tough road ahead in CT25. Their qualification for the knockout stages will depend on their performances in the upcoming matches. The team management, including captain Mohammad Rizwan and coach Aqib Javed, will need to reassess their strategies, particularly in bowling and field placements.
As the criticism mounts, fans and experts are urging the team to bounce back strongly. Afridi’s comments reflect the growing concerns within Pakistan’s cricketing circles about the team’s inconsistency in high-pressure games. Whether Pakistan can turn things around in the remainder of the tournament remains to be seen.
For now, however, the loss against India and Afridi’s sharp words will continue to dominate discussions as Pakistan looks to recover from yet another painful defeat at the hands of their biggest rivals.