India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has downplayed the hype surrounding the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The match between the two arch-rivals is set to take place on Sunday, February 23, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
While acknowledging the emotional intensity of the India-Pakistan match, Gambhir emphasized that the team’s primary goal is to win the Champions Trophy, not just focus on one specific game. He stressed that all matches in the tournament are equally important.
"Look, we don’t go to the Champions Trophy [2025] thinking that the 23rd is the most important game for us. I think five games, all the games are important," Gambhir stated during the annual BCCI awards.
Gambhir continued, "The mission to go to Dubai is to win the Champions Trophy, not only win one particular game. But yes, if that is one game in the middle of winning the title, we’re going to try and take it as seriously as possible."
"And more importantly, I think when two countries, India and Pakistan, play against each other, obviously the emotions are really high, but ultimately the contest remains the same."
The coach also recognized the heightened emotions during an India-Pakistan match but reminded that, ultimately, the contest remains the same as any other game.
He further emphasized the level of competition in the eight-team tournament, noting that the format leaves little room for error. "Champions Trophy is a completely different challenge as compared to the 50-over World Cup because literally every game is a make-or-break, so you can’t stop anywhere in this tournament," Gambhir concluded.
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