Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan Lost, Babar Trolled

After eight long years, the ICC Champions Trophy officially got underway today in Pakistan with the opening match, played between the host nation of Pakistan and New Zealand. While the natural expectation was that Pakistan would make full use of the home conditions, the exact opposite has happened now.

Pakistan was absolutely bamboozled by a well-rounded New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament.

After being put to bat first New Zealand scored 320 runs in their first innings, and this was always going to be at all chase for Pakistan. In response, Pakistan could conjure just to 260 runs and ended up losing the game by a margin of 60 runs.

The main culprit of this failed branch is Babar Azam. The traditionally slow based batsman who came to open the evenings for Pakistan ended up playing a characteristically sedate innings as he got to 64 from 90. In a game where the required rate was consistently above six runs per over, Babar played with a strike rate of 70. He is getting trolled on social media for the same.

Subsequently, Pakistan ended up losing the game by a comprehensive margin of 60 runs and made a disaster start to the tournament. Their next game against India will be all the more special and consequential now. This game is going to be played on February 23, and it is going to be a crucial encounter for both India and Pakistan.