Indian captain Rohit Sharma has played down the significance of the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Speaking to reporters, Rohit said that discussions surrounding Pakistan-India encounters have been ongoing for the past two to three years, but the team is not making any special mention of the February 23 fixture.

“We have talked a lot about Pakistan-India matches over the last few years, but we are not going to make any special mention about this match. We just have to play well,” Rohit remarked.

Gautam says they are not entering the tournament

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir also echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that India’s primary goal is to win the Champions Trophy rather than focusing on a single fixture.

“We are not entering the tournament with the mindset that February 23 is the most important match. All five matches are crucial, and our mission is to win the Champions Trophy,” Gambhir said at an awards ceremony hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 fixtures

The tournament will commence on February 19, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi. The much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.

Key matches:

February 19: Pakistan vs New Zealand (Karachi)
February 20: Bangladesh vs India (Dubai)
February 22: Australia vs England (Lahore)
February 23: Pakistan vs India (Dubai)
March 4 & 5: Semi-finals (Dubai, Lahore)
March 9: Final (Lahore, unless India qualifies, in which case it will be played in Dubai)