ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Ravi Shastri exposes Gautam Gambhir's lie on India vs Pakistan match

Former allrounder Ravi Shastri has been a part of many India-Pakistan matches during his tenure as India's head coach. As a result, Shastri is aware of the dressing room atmosphere and the pressure of playing in such big games.

Shastri was recently asked about India's current head coach Gautam Gambhir's comments in which the latter called for the India-Pakistan game to be treated as just another game in the tournament. The former India head coach claimed that such answers are just for the media.

While Shastri feels that there will be pressure on both teams, he was quick to add that India will be the favorites going into this match. He feels that the ODI format suits India more and gives their skilled players to make more impact in the game.

Also read: Rohit Sharma issues an official statement on Jasprit Bumrah's availability for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Ravi Shastri replies to Gautam Gambhir's comments

During a conversation on The ICC Review, Ravi Shastri shed light on the experience of India-Pakistan matches when he was the team's head coach. While he feels that he would have answered the same thing as Gambhir, he also knows that such things are just for the media so that they don't hype it too much.

“I was the coach for seven years. Whenever I was asked, I said the same thing (as Gambhir). But let me assure you, deep down, there's a lot more to that than you actually think, that's for the media,” Ravi Shastri said.

“You have to say it. But deep down, you want to win that. Because if you don't, you'll be reminded of it until the next time you play against Pakistan,” he added.

The former India allrounder believes that people won't look into the past records when it comes to India-Pakistan matches. According to him, the players will be reminded of the defeat even if they win all and lose just one match.

“People don't care what you have done in the past. They're not bothered about the last 10 games if you won eight or you won nine. But they'll remind you if you lose one, until the next time you play them,” Ravi Shastri noted.

Ravi Shastri picks his favorite for India-Pakistan clash

Further speaking on the rivalry, Ravi Shastri felt that India-Pakistan matches are different as everyone gets involved. He also feels that the ODI format suits India more and they will go into the match as favorites.

“It can be a taxi driver, it could be anyone on the street. ‘What happened to India?’ The same question to Pakistan. ‘What happened to Pakistan?’ So whether you like it or not, it's a different game. Different beasts altogether,” Shastri observed.

“No, that won't play on their mind because that was a T20 game (on India's T20 World Cup 2021 defeat to Pakistan). This is a 50-over clash. It's totally different. And it's a longer game which suits India more. India is a far better side and far more experienced as well,” he reckoned.

When will the India-Pakistan match be played?

The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match will be played on February 23 in Dubai. It will be the second match for both teams in the tournament. Pakistan will play the tournament opener against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.

On the other hand, India will open its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai. Both India and Pakistan are in Group A alongside Bangladesh and New Zealand. The tournament will be played in a hybrid model in Pakistan and Dubai.

While all the teams will play in Pakistan, India's matches will be held in Dubai after the BCCI refused to send their team to Pakistan due to the refusal of the Indian government. It will also be Gautam Gambhir's first India-Pakistan match as the head coach.