Dubai, Feb 21:  Despite the hype surrounding the marquee Champions Trophy clash between India and Pakistan here on Sunday, fast bowler Haris Rauf has said that his team will take the game against Rohit Sharma's side just like any other match, and aim for victory to stay in contention. Pakistan, after being beaten by New Zealand in the opener at Karachi, need to beat India to stay in contention for a place in the knockout stage of the eight-team tournament. India Vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025: All-Rounder Khushdil Shah Confident Of Beating Men In Blue In Mega Clash, Says ‘India Is Strong But Beatable’.

India will be coming into the high-pressure game on the back of a six-wicket win against Bangladesh where Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten century.

"There is no pressure in the match against India, all the players are relaxed and we will take it just like any other match," said Rauf. Rauf also insisted that he was "100 percent" match-fit, and had proven this by bowling his quota of 10 overs against New Zealand. "We have beaten India in Dubai twice before, so we know the conditions here very well. Our entire game plan will depend on the conditions and pitch on match day," he added. India’s Performance in ICC Champions Trophy: A Look at Past Record of Men in Blue in Mega Event Ahead of CT 2025.

He said the match against New Zealand was history and the players were now focussed on the India match. "Yes, the absence of Saim Ayub and now Fakhar Zaman is a big setback for us in the Champions Trophy. But we still have the players to perform well and take us through in this event," he added. He said every player realised that in a match against India, it was a big opportunity to become a hero, but that will only be possible if they hold their nerve and do well.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)