Aakash Chopra voices concerns over India’s fixtures in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns over India's fixtures in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, citing a sense of unease due to the team's past struggles in Dubai. India's group for the tournament has been confirmed, with the team placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.

India will begin their campaign on February 20, 2025, against Bangladesh, followed by matches against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2.

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Chopra reminisced about India's disappointing performance in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where they suffered heavy defeats to both Pakistan and New Zealand in Dubai. Reflecting on the upcoming fixtures, he admitted, "You get a horrible feeling — Pakistan and New Zealand in our group with 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."

Despite these concerns, Chopra remains optimistic about India's chances in the 50-over format. "This is ODI, not T20. If ODI matches are played in the UAE, we will grab them. Rohit (Sharma) and (Virat) Kohli will both be playing, Jasprit Bumrah will be there, and we have understood the ODI template very well. So, we should ideally qualify from our group," Chopra added.

The 2025 Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match will take place on February 23 in Dubai, with the final scheduled for March 9, 2025. The venue for the final is yet to be confirmed, with Lahore or a neutral location being considered, depending on India’s qualification.