‘Lot of hype is created but …’ – Harbhajan Singh names his favorite for IND vs PAK Champions Trophy clash

Former India spin legend Harbhajan Singh has named his favourite for the upcoming India vs Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy 2025. The two sides are set to battle for the fifth time in the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the 23rd of February. In their last meeting in the tournament during the 2017 finals, Pakistan won by a massive margin of 180 runs to claim the title. 

Harbhajan Singh was in Dubai for the recently concluded ILT20 series. The 44-year-old said during his chat with ANI, “According to me, the game between India and Pakistan has seen a lot of hype being created. But if you look at Team India as the favourites. The pitch, if you see, I have covered the tournament (ILT20), is a slow pitch so the team that adjusts itself well will see the result going in their favour.”

The former India legend also added, “The biggest advantage for India is that they are playing all their matches in Dubai. They will get a better understanding of the pitch and the conditions. Overall for me, India is a much better team than Pakistan and the result should go in favour of India if we go by comparison on paper. But on the given day, teams will have to play good cricket to win the match.”

Harbhajan Singh speaks on Jasprit Bumrah’s importance for India 

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s fate is set to be revealed on Tuesday as the 31-year-old is touch and go for the tournament. Bumrah, as per reports, has been training and a call regarding his participation will be finalised soon. Harbhajan was also asked to speak about Bumrah’s importance to the team. 

The 44-year-old said, “Look, if a player like Bumrah or any big player for that matter doesn’t play, then some has to take the responsibility. With that said, there is no one like Bumrah, but for others, this is an opportunity to show their capabilities. There’s Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami or other bowlers who can set a platform together that can help the batters.”

One BCCI official while speaking to PTI said, “Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach Rajnikanth Sivagnanam and physio Thulasi Ram Yuvraj are currently working on Bumrah's rehabilitation with Head of Sports Science, Dr Nitin Patel, personally monitoring the whole process. Obviously, the national team S&C coach Soham Desai and physio Kamlesh Jain are also kept in the loop.”