Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has commended Indian opener Shubman Gill for his ascent to the top of the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings. Gill's recent performances, including consecutive centuries, have been pivotal in India's victories, notably a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy opener. Ponting highlighted Gill's proficiency in white-ball cricket, attributing his success to natural, aggressive play and an ability to find boundaries effortlessly against fast bowling. While acknowledging areas for improvement in Test cricket, Ponting emphasized Gill's potential as a future leader, noting his composed demeanor and ambition.     

India and Pakistan will face off in a crucial Champions Trophy match on Sunday in Dubai. A loss for Pakistan could end their title defence after their opening defeat to New Zealand. India, who beat Bangladesh in their first match, are aiming for a semi-final spot. Pakistan suffered a setback with Fakhar Zaman ruled out due to injury. India has dominated recent encounters, winning five of the last six ODIs. The match is expected to draw millions of viewers worldwide. With both teams under pressure, fans anticipate a thrilling contest between the arch-rivals.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes India will defeat Pakistan in their Champions Trophy 2025 match on February 23 in Dubai. He said India's strong spin attack will trouble Pakistan, who struggle against spin bowling. India recently beat Bangladesh with help from spinners and a solid batting performance. Meanwhile, Pakistan lost badly to New Zealand. Ganguly also predicted that Pakistan might be knocked out early. He backed Virat Kohli to overcome his recent struggles against spin. With India and New Zealand in strong form, Ganguly sees them as favourites to progress in the tournament.

Pakistan all-rounder Khushdil Shah has expressed confidence in his team's ability to defeat India in their upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 clash, despite acknowledging India's strong lineup. Emphasizing that "every team is beatable," Shah believes that bringing their best performance will be key to overcoming their arch-rivals. Following a 60-run loss to New Zealand in their opening match, Pakistan faces a must-win situation to keep their tournament hopes alive. Shah also addressed criticism regarding his selection, urging fans to continue their support as the team aims to manage pressure and deliver a winning performance.   

In a remarkable comeback, Mohammed Shami's 5 for 53 led India to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener in Dubai. Shami's performance, following a 14-month injury hiatus, showcased his enduring prowess in ICC tournaments, bringing his tally to 60 wickets in 19 innings, surpassing Zaheer Khan's record. Bangladesh, initially struggling at 35/5, posted 228 thanks to Towhid Hridoy's resilient 100. India's chase was anchored by Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101, securing victory with 21 balls to spare. Shami's dedication during rehabilitation underscores his commitment to the sport. 

India captain Rohit Sharma became the second fastest batter to reach 11,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in 261 innings and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar (276). However, he fell short of Virat Kohli’s record (222 innings). Rohit, who started the Champions Trophy 2025 with a quickfire 41 off 36 balls against Bangladesh, now trails Sourav Ganguly (11,363) in India’s all-time ODI run-scorers list. With 32 centuries and 338 sixes, he remains a dominant force in ODIs. Kohli, at 13,963 runs, is just 37 runs away from becoming the third player to reach 14,000 ODI runs.

India began their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a 6-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai. Mohammed Shami starred with a record-breaking 5/53 as Bangladesh struggled at 35/5 before Towhid Hridoy (100) and Jaker Ali (68) guided them to 228. In reply, Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 101 and Rohit Sharma’s 41 set up India’s chase, securing the win comfortably. India will next face Pakistan on February 23 at the same venue, while Bangladesh will meet New Zealand on February 24 in Rawalpindi.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami became the fastest bowler to take 200 ODI wickets in terms of balls bowled (5126), surpassing Mitchell Starc’s 5240 deliveries. Shami achieved the milestone in the Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh by dismissing Jaker Ali. He also became the quickest Indian to 200 wickets in ODIs, reaching the feat in 104 matches. The veteran pacer silenced critics with a stunning five-wicket haul (5/53), leading India’s pace attack in Dubai. With 73 wickets in ICC tournaments, Shami now holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian in global events.

India will face Bangladesh in their opening Champions Trophy match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 20, 2025. The pitch is expected to favor pace bowlers, with Mohammad Shami and Arshdeep Singh set to benefit from seam movement. Despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace department remains strong. Weather conditions are predicted to be overcast, with temperatures ranging from 26°C in the morning to 23°C in the evening, providing ideal conditions for cricket. The match could see both pace and spin play key roles, particularly in the latter half.  

Afghanistan will face South Africa in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on February 21 at Karachi's National Bank Stadium. The weather forecast predicts pleasant conditions with a temperature of 31°C and minimal chances of rain. South Africa leads the head-to-head ODI record 3-2. Afghanistan’s squad is led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, featuring strong batters like Gurbaz and Zadran, while Rashid Khan leads the spin attack. South Africa, captained by Temba Bavuma, will rely on key players like Rabada, Jansen, and Miller.