New Delhi, Feb 22 (NationPress) Jatin Paranjape, a former Indian cricketer and national selector, expresses that while the team led by Rohit Sharma holds a sense of quiet optimism for their eagerly awaited Champions Trophy showdown against Pakistan, they must remain vigilant of Mohammad Rizwan and his team due to their unpredictable nature.

This Sunday, the atmosphere at the 2025 Champions Trophy will reach a peak when India faces Pakistan in a highly awaited Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium, expected to be attended by a full house. The last encounter between the two teams was during the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, where India emerged victorious by seven wickets.

“India will approach the match against Pakistan with caution. I doubt they will feel overly confident, as Pakistan can be a very unpredictable side. Thus, I would describe India as quietly confident,” Paranjape remarked.

“This confidence arises from their recent series victory over England, where Rohit Sharma showcased some form. Therefore, I believe they will be cautiously optimistic while also remaining alert,” he added, speaking as a current member of the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee and co-founder of KheloMore, in an exclusive interview with IANS.

The match on Sunday will add another exciting chapter to the storied India-Pakistan rivalry and will be crucial for both teams’ prospects in the eight-team tournament. A win for India would bring them closer to the semi-finals, while a loss for Pakistan could mean an early exit.

“These matches are all significant marquee games, creating an electric atmosphere that often brings out the best in players. Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised if the game ends up being a nail-biter. However, I believe India will triumph,” Paranjape concluded.

In-form India vice-captain Shubman Gill recently scored an unbeaten 101, marking his second consecutive ODI century while helping chase down a challenging target of 229 against Bangladesh in Dubai with 21 balls to spare. Paranjape noted that Gill, currently the top-ranked ODI batter, taking responsibility in run chases is a promising sign, even suggesting he could be the team’s future captain.

“It’s fascinating to see how he’s now shouldering the responsibility of guiding the team during these chases. I noticed this diligent approach in him starting from the Australian tour, where he was prepared to step into a senior player role. This is a positive development for Indian cricket, and I believe Shubman Gill will be considered as a potential captain for India,” he stated.

Paranjape also highlighted that Mohammed Shami’s impressive performance, taking 5 wickets for 53 runs against Bangladesh following a 14-month recovery from Achilles tendon surgery and knee swelling, is a good omen for India ahead of the clash with Pakistan.

“Shami has been in fine form and had a challenging domestic season. His performance ahead of the India-Pakistan match was commendable. Remember, with Bumrah unavailable, Shami becomes the senior bowler in the squad,” he noted.

When asked about areas India should improve upon before facing Pakistan, Paranjape emphasized the need for the team to include left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the lineup.

Pant is currently sidelined as KL Rahul is the preferred wicketkeeper. “I believe they need to finalize the right combination. If Pant does not feature, India will not be fielding their best XI - I want to stress that point,” he concluded.