Sunil Gavaskar on Pakistan’s Struggles: ‘India’s B Team Would Be Tough to Beat’ Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
Sunil Gavaskar Slams Pakistan’s Struggles: Says India’s B Team Would Be Tough to Beat in Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan cricket is facing a major crisis following their early exit from the Champions Trophy 2025, which they are hosting. The team has suffered back-to-back defeats—a 60-run loss to New Zealand and a six-wicket loss to India—raising serious concerns about their overall performance and squad depth.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has now criticized Pakistan’s lack of bench strength and the team’s struggles in the tournament. Speaking on Sports Today, he expressed his surprise at Pakistan’s decline, stating that even India’s second-string team (B team) would be tough to beat for Pakistan in their current form.
“I think a B team certainly (can give Pakistan a run for their money). C team, I am not too sure. But a B team will be very, very hard to beat for Pakistan in their current form,” Gavaskar said.
Pakistan’s Struggles in Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan has struggled mainly because of poor batting performances and the lack of replacements for key players. In their match against India in Dubai, they managed only 241 all out in 49.4 overs, and India comfortably chased it down in 42.3 overs, thanks to a century by Virat Kohli (100 off 111 balls).
Additionally, Pakistan’s top order has clearly struggled. The team missed regular opener Fakhar Zaman, and his replacement Imam-ul-Haq failed to deliver, scoring only 10 runs off 26 balls before getting run out. The absence of Saim Ayub, another aggressive batter, further weakened the lineup. Gavaskar questioned why Pakistan didn’t have adequate backup options for these key players.
Pakistan’s Batting Approach Under Fire
Gavaskar criticized Pakistan’s defensive approach, calling it a major reason for their downfall. While their top order needed to take the attack to the opposition, they lacked intent.
“The first ball Mohammad Rizwan faced, he hit for a boundary. Straightaway, I thought there would be a change in approach because, until then, it was all about knocking the ball around. But nothing changed. Before they knew it, the Indian spinners were finishing their overs quickly. It was quite surprising that nothing went their way,” he said.
What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
After New Zealand defeated Bangladesh, confirming Pakistan’s first-round exit, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to make major changes. The team’s poor performance on home soil will likely trigger sweeping structural reforms, including potential coaching and captaincy changes.
Pakistan must rebuild their squad, strengthen their bench depth, and adopt a more aggressive approach to stay competitive in international cricket.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has been nothing short of disappointing. Cricket experts like Sunil Gavaskar have questioned their ability to compete at the highest level. With major changes expected, Pakistan must reassess their batting depth, intent, and squad selection to bounce back stronger in future tournaments.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has now criticized Pakistan’s lack of bench strength and struggles in the tournament. Speaking on Sports Today, he expressed his surprise at Pakistan’s decline.
