2025 ICC Champions Trophy - General Discussions

[Aislabie]

It actually felt like they played smarter today

I still feel like picking three right-arm hit the deck bowlers as your entire seam attack and then wondering why you just got belted on a road with dew in the air falls some way short of playing smarter.

I find the Smith at 3 thing somewhat baffling and Jos Buttler coming in with ten left feels like you completely ignore his strengths. He's not the player he was in 2015-2019 but he would always be the guy to come in with 20-25 overs left. I'd actually prefer Brook in at 4, Buttler floating and Smith playing the Stokes type role where he can pick up the pieces if needed. Or, Brook at 6 to take on the pacers given his struggles against spin. Heck, I'd give Brook a shot at opening with Duckett to be honest.

This is a more fundamental issue though: none of the side have any role awareness because the last domestic List A cricket any of them played was when Theresa May was still Prime Minister.

If I had to come up with a balanced XI from this squad, I think the only three definites on my teamsheet would be Duckett opening, Root at 3 and Rashid as the attacking spinner. The rest is very ???.

 

[ddrap14]

I find the Smith at 3 thing somewhat baffling

IDK I think we were much more balanced with him there :P

 

[Fenil]

I have a feeling that Salman Agha's bowling might play a pivotal part in the match today.

 

[Neo 7]

Final time Kohli playing against Pak in his career , may be

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Having a feeling that Pakistan might pull it off against India today.

The Dubai surface might just suit them more.

PS - Not a reverse jinx attempt at all , India looks stronger on paper and form wise but Pakistan can pull it off today.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Having a feeling that Pakistan might pull it off against India today.

The Dubai surface might just suit them more.

PS - Not a reverse jinx attempt at all , India looks stronger on paper and form wise but Pakistan can pull it off today.

No chance

 

[Fenil]

Having a feeling that Pakistan might pull it off against India today.

The Dubai surface might just suit them more.

PS - Not a reverse jinx attempt at all , India looks stronger on paper and form wise but Pakistan can pull it off today.

Same.

Also I will lose it if India played Rana over Arshdeep in this match.

 

[Neo 7]

praying for the "n"th time , can we please have some sledging today , it's been ages ?

hope Rana does if plays

 

[Bigby Wolf]

With very less dew in the last game, good decision batting first on the surface which is also on the slower side

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Pakistan-Bangladesh is probably a washout, so regardless of what happens today, Pakistan are out of it anyway.

 

[cricfan123]

Really don't understand why Harshit is playing instead of Arshdeep, Pakistani have struggled against left arm fast bowling in the past Harshit will be cannon fodder on this pitch

 

[Fenil]

praying for the "n"th time , can we please have some sledging today , it's been ages ?

hope Rana does if plays

Harshit doesn't have the spice to trouble the Pakistan batsmen. Varun would have been the x factor as the opponents wouldn't have seen much of him.

India missed the trick already and it was a good toss to win for Pakistan.

 

[Master Khan]

Pretty empty stadium. If this was in Pakistan, it would have been a full house and a lot of noise.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Shami seems unfit really. Arshdeep had to be playing ahead of Rana!

 

[Fenil]

I'm no expert but Babar seems to have that extra time to play the ball today so he is definitely in for a big one. The commentators on the other end saying Babar is struggling.