It has been confirmed that India’s matches for Champions Trophy 2025 will be played outside Pakistan in a neutral venue that would be Dubai. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra took time to retrospect as recalled how India were humiliated by Pakistan comprehensively by 10 wickets in the 2021 T20 World Cup. The experience was ‘horrible’ and he frankly admitted that it left everyone ‘heartbroken.’

“We Were Heartbroken Before”: Says Chopra

“You get a horrible feeling – Pakistan and New Zealand in our group with the matches in Dubai because the chances of it happening in Dubai are the brightest. It wasn’t good the last time this happened in an ICC tournament. We were heartbroken,” he said on his YouTube channel. 

“However, that was T20. This is ODI. If ODI matches are played in the UAE, we will grab them. Rohit (Sharma) and (Virat) Kohli will both be seen playing there. Jasprit Bumrah will be there and we have understood the ODI template very well. So we should ideally qualify from our group,” he reasoned.

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India Lost T20 World Cup To Pakistan

India lost their first match of 2021 T20 WC to Pakistan and then lost their second game against New Zealand, which forced them out of the tournament early. Chopra added that on this occasion, it will be an ODI not a T20I. However, he said that prominent players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are going to appear in the game. Meanwhile, Pakistan has agreed to a hybrid model, meaning India will play its matches in Dubai. Official dates are yet to be confirmed, but reports suggest that the match might take place on February 23.