Indian cricket team Captain Rohit Sharma has played down the heightened anticipation surrounding the upcoming India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Speaking at an awards ceremony, Sharma said his team would approach the match with the same focus and dedication as any other, prioritizing solid performances over the match’s historical significance.
“We will do what is expected from any cricket team on that day,” said Sharma, reiterating that the focus remains firmly on delivering a strong, consistent performance throughout the tournament. Further echoing this sentiment, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir also dismissed any extra emphasis on the Pakistan clash.
Gambhir remarked that the team’s ultimate goal is to win the Champions Trophy, rather than fixating on a single match. “We don’t go to the Champions Trophy thinking that the 23rd is the most important game for us,” he said at the annual BCCI awards.
“All the games are important. Our mission is to win the Champions Trophy, not just one particular game. But yes, if that is one game in the middle of winning the Champions Trophy, we’re going to take it as seriously as possible.”
Gambhir acknowledged the heightened emotions surrounding a fixture between the two arch-rivals but stressed that the core objective remains unchanged. “When two countries like India and Pakistan play against each other, the emotions are really high, but ultimately, the contest remains the same,” he added.
India, the 2013 Champions Trophy winners, will begin their 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by their highly anticipated encounter with Pakistan on February 23. The team will then conclude their group-stage fixtures with a match against New Zealand on March 2.
