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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 roars to life on February 20 as cricketing giants India and Bangladesh lock horns in a high-stakes Group A opener at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This clash isn’t just a curtain-raiser for the tournament; it’s a collision of history, ambition, and redemption. India, a two-time Champions Trophy winner, enter as the statisti🎀cal favourite with a commanding 32-8 head-to-head ODI record against Bangladesh. Yet, Bangladesh’s recent upsets—three wins in their last 𝕴five ODIs against India—hint at a potential shift in dynamics.
For India, the match is a chance to assert dominance under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, backed by stalwarts like Virat Kohli (910 runs in 16 ODIs vs Bangladesh) and a lethal bowling unit featuring Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav. Bangladesh, however, arrives shorn of veterans Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das, placing immense pressure on Mushfiqur Rahim (7,793 ODI runs) and Mustafizur Rahman (172 wic♎kets) to fill the void. With both teams eyeing a strong start, Dubai’s pitch and weather could play decisive roles in shaping this contest.
India’s recent form L, L, W, W, W
India’s recent form paints a picture of resurgence. Fresh off a dominant 3-0 ODI series sweep against England earlier in February, the Men in Blue have momentum on their side. However, their last five ODIs reveal a mixed bag: two losses followed by three consecutive wins. Key performers include Shubman Gill, who has been prolific at the top, and Hardik Pandya, whose all-round prowess adds balance. The return of Rishabh Pant bolsters India’s middle order, while spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are primed to exploit Dubai’s spin-friendly ♋conditions.
Bangladesh’s recent form L, L, L, L, W
Bangladesh’s road to the Champions Trophy has been rocky. They’ve lost eight of their last 12 ODIs, including a 3-0 whitewash against the West Indies in December 2024 and a 2-1 series loss to Afghanistan 48. Their recent five-match ODI streak reads L-L-L-L-W, underscoring vulnerabilities in both batting and bowling. The absence of Shakib—a linchpin with 751 runs and 29 wickets against India—leaves a gaping hole. Youngsters like Tanzid Hasan and Tawhid Hridoy must step up to counter India’s firepower.
Also READ: Champions T💦rophy 2025: Key details, Qualification process, and Reserve Day rules for Knockout games
Weather: How Dubai’s climate could tip the scales
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium, renowned for its seamer-friendly early conditions and dew-laden evenings, adds a layer of complexity to this day-night fixture. Weather forecasts predict dry, warm temperatures (~28°C) with moderate humidity (58%) and light winds 7. While rain is unlikely, cloud cover during the first innings could aid swing bowlers like Taskin Ahmed and Mohammed Shami.
🎃However, the real game-changer will be dew. As the sun sets, moisture accumulation on the outfield and pitch could make gripping the ball challenging for spinners and pacers alike during the second innings. Teams winning the toss may prefer chasing, given Dubai’s historical bias: 62.71% of matches here are won by sides fielding first. The pitch itself, a hybrid of abrasive concrete and variable strips, tends to slow down as the game progresses, favoring spin in the latter half.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant,🌟 Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy
Bangladesh: Naz💃mul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Mira🐬z, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana
