Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has downplayed the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, calling it an “overhyped contest” and predicting an easy win for his home nation.
Speaking about the high-voltage clash, scheduled for February 23 in Dubai, Harbhajan asserted that India is “way ahead” of their arch-rivals and expects the match to be one-sided rather than a closely fought battle.
“India are way ahead of Pakistan at this stage. I think it will be a one-sided game. It’s an overhyped contest. Yes, the tickets have been priced high. But I don’t think we will get a lot of fun watching this one-sided match,” Harbhajan Singh stated.
Harbhajan Singh’s confidence stems from India’s recent dominance over Pakistan in major ICC events. Since the 2017 Champions Trophy final, India has won all but one ICC World Cup match against Pakistan, including their last meeting in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has struggled for consistency in recent years, with captaincy and coaching changes plaguing their development. Victories in tours against Australia and South Africa restored some faith in the team before a disappointing tri-series at home once again dampened expectations. However, with the match being played on their “home away from home,” the Mohammad Rizwan-led side will be determined to silence doubters like Harbhajan Singh. If Pakistan can deliver a strong performance, they might turn what Harbhajan calls a “one-sided game” into an unforgettable battle.
The India-Pakistan rivalry has always been about more than cricket, and Harbhajan Singh’s comments are likely to add fuel to the fire, intensifying the build-up to what remains the biggest clash in world cricket.