Why Team India Arrived Just 35 Minutes Before Toss for India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 Clash?

The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 clash saw an unexpected drama unfold even before the first ball was bowled. Team India arrived at the Dubai International Stadium just 35 minutes before the toss, leaving little time for warm-ups and pre-match preparations.

What Caused the Delay?

According to reports, the Indian team bus was stuck in Dubai traffic, leading to a significant delay in their arrival at the venue. The congestion in the city, combined with the high-profile nature of the match, resulted in an unusual situation where India’s players had to rush through their warm-up routines before taking the field.

Impact on the Match and Players

With limited time to warm up and assess pitch conditions, India’s players had to make quick adjustments before the toss.

Jasprit Bumrah, who was in Dubai to receive multiple ICC awards, including the ICC Test Player of the Year and the Sir Garfield Sobers Award, joined the warm-up session at the last minute.

Despite the delay, the Indian team maintained their composure and was ready for the high-pressure encounter against Pakistan.

Why the Stadium Wasn’t Jam-Packed Despite Sold-Out Tickets?

Interestingly, the late arrival of Team India also contributed to the stadium not being at full capacity at the time of the toss. Even though tickets for this blockbuster Champions Trophy clash were sold out within minutes, many fans were still making their way to the venue, facing the same traffic congestion that delayed the Indian team.

Pakistan Wins the Toss, Opts to Bat First

Despite India’s late arrival, the match proceeded as scheduled. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to bat first. However, his decision could prove costly, as the evening dew factor in Dubai might make bowling difficult in the second innings.

Pakistan made one change in their playing XI, bringing in Imam-ul-Haq to replace the injured Fakhar Zaman. Meanwhile, India stuck to their winning combination, despite losing their 12th consecutive toss in ODIs, setting a new unwanted record for most consecutive toss losses in the format.

Early Setback for Pakistan: Babar and Imam Depart Cheaply

Pakistan’s hopes of posting a competitive total suffered early blows as both their openers were dismissed cheaply:

Babar Azam, who looked in good touch and played some elegant cover drives, fell for 23 off 26 balls, edging a Hardik Pandya delivery to KL Rahul behind the stumps.

Imam-ul-Haq, in for Fakhar Zaman, was run out by Axar Patel for just 10 off 26 balls, continuing Pakistan’s top-order struggles in crucial ICC matches.

India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 Playing XIs

India Playing XI:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav

Pakistan Playing XI:

Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Can Team India Overcome the Pre-Match Hurdle?

While the delayed arrival could have disrupted India’s pre-game routine, Rohit Sharma and his men remained focused on the task at hand. With Pakistan already losing early wickets, the late arrival didn’t seem to have any significant impact on India’s performance on the field.

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