Mohammad Rizwan Reveals Reasons Why Pakistan Lost Against India In Champions Trophy 2025

The much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 lived up to its billing as a high-octane encounter, but it was India who emerged victorious, defeating their arch-rivals by 6 wickets in Dubai.

Virat Kohli’s masterful unbeaten century and a disciplined bowling performance from India sealed the win, leaving Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan to reflect on where his team fell short. In a candid post-match analysis, Rizwan pinpointed several key reasons for Pakistan’s defeat, offering insights into the challenges his team faced.

Reason 1: Toss Advantage That Didn’t Translate Into a Big Total

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first in a pressure game like this seemed like a logical decision by Pakistan. The conditions in Dubai, combined with the expected pitch behavior, suggested that a total around 280 would be competitive. However, Rizwan acknowledged that his team failed to capitalize on the toss advantage, which ultimately cost them the game.

🗣️ “We won the toss, but we didn’t get the benefit of the toss,” Rizwan admitted in the post-match presentation.

Pakistan started cautiously, aiming to lay a solid foundation, but the Indian bowlers kept the scoring in check. Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya ensured that Pakistan never really got into a flow, making it difficult for them to build momentum.

The middle overs proved to be the turning point as Pakistan lost crucial wickets at regular intervals. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel looked to stabilize the innings, but India’s tight bowling and sharp fielding prevented them from accelerating. The pressure eventually led to rash shot-making, restricting Pakistan to a below-par total of 240 runs.

🗣️ “In the middle overs, their bowlers bowled very well and got our wickets,” Rizwan remarked, highlighting how India’s bowling attack stifled their batting effort.

Reason 2: Poor Shot Selection and Missed Opportunities

A key reason behind Pakistan’s below-par total was their poor shot selection, especially in the latter stages of the innings.

Despite a promising start, Pakistan failed to convert it into a match-winning total. Saud Shakeel’s fifty and Khushdil Shah’s cameo gave some hope, but Pakistan’s batting crumbled under pressure.

Rizwan did not hold back in his assessment, admitting that Pakistan’s batting lacked discipline.

🗣️ “They put us under pressure, and that’s why we were squeezed to 240,” he explained, highlighting how a lack of composure and panic in the death overs hurt Pakistan’s chances.

Some of Pakistan’s most reliable batters threw away their wickets at crucial junctures. With India’s bowlers maintaining control, the Pakistani batters seemed desperate to break free, leading to avoidable dismissals. The failure to rotate strike and build partnerships meant that Pakistan never really accelerated in the final overs.

Against a team like India, 240 was always going to be an underwhelming target, and Rizwan knew it.

Reason 3: Fielding Woes Continue to Haunt Pakistan

While Pakistan’s batting struggles were evident, their fielding performance was even more concerning. In a high-pressure match, every dropped catch, misfield, and missed run-out opportunity can change the course of the game.

Pakistan’s fielding was far from ideal, and Rizwan was brutally honest about this weakness.

🗣️ “We need to improve in our fielding as well. We did a lot of mistakes in this match and the last match as well,” Rizwan admitted, acknowledging that fielding has been a long-standing issue for Pakistan.

Several crucial errors allowed India’s batters to settle in comfortably. Dropped catches of players like Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli proved costly, as both batters went on to make match-winning contributions.

Pakistan’s fielding standards have been under scrutiny for years, and this match once again exposed their inconsistency in the field. In a tournament as competitive as the Champions Trophy, such mistakes can be unforgivable.

Rizwan’s assessment was clear—Pakistan’s batting struggles alone did not cost them the game; their fielding failures also played a huge role in their downfall.

Reason 4: India’s Clinical Dominance with Bat and Ball

While Pakistan’s shortcomings played a role in their defeat, India’s brilliance on the field was undeniable. The Indian bowlers were exceptionally accurate, maintaining pressure throughout Pakistan’s innings.

🗣️ “India’s bowlers were stunningly accurate,” Rizwan admitted, praising their control over the game.

Each Indian bowler executed their plans flawlessly, ensuring Pakistan never gained momentum.

India’s Batting Masterclass

Chasing 241, India made the target look effortless, thanks to Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 51st ODI century.

Gill’s brisk start and Iyer’s composed fifty ensured that India remained in control throughout the chase. Kohli’s classic knock once again proved why he thrives in high-pressure games.

🗣️ “Kohli and Gill took the game far away from us,” Rizwan admitted, accepting India’s superiority in all departments.

A Wake-Up Call for Pakistan

This defeat has put Pakistan’s tournament hopes in jeopardy, making their remaining matches must-win encounters.

Pakistan, as the host nation, was under immense pressure to perform, and this loss has exposed multiple areas that require urgent improvement.

🗣️ “Whenever you lose, it means you didn’t perform in all departments,” Rizwan stated, emphasizing the need for an all-round improvement.

With batting, fielding, and overall execution falling short, Pakistan must quickly regroup and address their flaws before it’s too late.

Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Pakistan?

Pakistan’s loss to India is a major setback, but it’s not the end of their campaign. Rizwan’s candid admission of the team’s weaknesses is a step in the right direction, but words must be backed by action.

Key Areas Pakistan Needs to Improve:

Batting Strategy – Players must convert starts into big scores.
Shot Selection – Avoid reckless shots in crucial moments.
Fielding Standards – Catching and ground fielding must improve.
Mindset Under Pressure – Pakistan must handle tense situations better.

As the Champions Trophy progresses, all eyes will be on how Pakistan responds to this setback. With the knockout stage approaching, they must find their rhythm quickly to stay in the hunt for the title.