Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has expressed skepticism regarding Pakistan’s performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to begin on February 19. He criticized Pakistan’s inconsistency, questioning the effectiveness of their batting lineup and particularly Babar Azam’s credentials as a top-tier batter.
In a detailed analysis on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan compared Pakistan and India’s current form, stating that India is a well-settled team, whereas Pakistan appears unsteady. He pointed out that Babar’s average of 31 falls short of top-player standards, while Mohammad Rizwan’s average against India (25) also raises concerns.
Further critiquing Pakistan’s lineup, he dismissed the impact of players like Faheem Ashraf (12.5 avg.) and Saud Shakeel (6 avg. vs India), saying they lack the ability to challenge top teams. However, he acknowledged Fakhar Zaman’s strong record against India (46 avg.), calling him Pakistan’s biggest hope.
Harbhajan was far more confident in India’s squad, praising the recent form of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, and Virat Kohli. He also named Afghanistan as a potential surprise team, expecting them to perform well in these conditions.
Predicting Pakistan’s first match against New Zealand, he forecasted another defeat for the Men in Green, citing New Zealand’s dominance over Pakistan in recent encounters. As for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash, he boldly stated that India is miles ahead and a strong contender to win the tournament.
