Pakistan started well in the crucial Group A match against the arch-rivals India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, Hardik Pandya produced the first wicket for India after dismissing the Pakistan opener Babar Azam. 

Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq started the innings after the skipper Mohammad Rizwan chose to bat first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The openers provided a good start as they had a 41-run partnership for the first wicket. 

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Hardik Pandya dismissed Babar Azam and had calm celebration

Hardik Pandya joined the bowling line-up as the first change bowler. Although he conceded a boundary in his first over of the match, the right-arm pacer was better with the ball in hand. After conceding another boundary to Babar Azam on the first ball of his second over, Pandya delivered a good ball that moved away and Babar had an edge that traveled to the keeper KL Rahul. Rahul had a good diving to grab that opportunity, and India got an important breakthrough at the right time. 

Babar was going fine before his dismissal as he was out after scoring 23 off 26 balls with the help of five fours. After taking that crucial wicket, Pandya said bye-bye to Babar in his calm celebration. 

𝙃𝘼𝙍𝘿𝙄𝙆 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙋𝙎 𝙐𝙋, 𝘽𝘼𝘽𝘼𝙍 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙋𝙎 𝙊𝙐𝙏! 💥🎯

India gets the breakthrough as @hardikpandya7 forces the edge, and Babar Azam has to walk back! Game-changing moment? 🤯🔥#ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar 👉 🇮🇳 🆚 🇵🇰 | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi,… pic.twitter.com/PyRBhJQeXb

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 23, 2025

Hardik Pandya dismissed Babar for the second time in international cricket

It was the second time when Hardik Pandya dismissed Babar Azam in international cricket. Previously, he dismissed Babar during the Super Four fixture of the Asia Cup 2023, which was in ODI format, the skipper Babar was bowled for 10 runs.