As cricket enthusiasts prepare for the highly anticipated India-Pakistan encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a shocking forecast has created waves on social media. Abhey Singh, alias IIT Baba, prophesied during Mahakumbh Mela 2025 that India won't win the high-profile match. Talking in a very assertive manner, he said, "Main tumko pehle se bol raha hu, is baar India nahi jeetegi" (I am telling you beforehand, India won't win this time). When asked to explain, he insisted on the same thing, saying, "Ab maine mana kar diya hai ke nahi jeetegi to nahi jeetegi, ab kya bhagwaan bade ho ya tum bade ho?" (Now that I've said India won't win, it won't happen. Are you bigger than God?).

IIT baba’s whole career is on risk after this statement 😄

Cricket se majak nhi bana 🙏🏻

pic.twitter.com/7TkMPaPQGF

— Marwadi Aflatoon (@ThalaCricket) February 21, 2025

IIT Baba's prediction became a viral sensation after UNIBIT Games posted a video of his message on Instagram. The video has already garnered more than 16 million views, leading to an overflow of reactions. Some fans ridiculed his words as ridiculous, while others resorted to sarcastic humor.
One user facetiously said, "Zada padhai karna bhi khatarnaak hota hai" (Too much study is also dangerous). Another said, "He believes in karma, we believe in Sharma." A third ridiculed his speech, saying, "Bro's helping verb is ehehehehe."
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This is not the first time IIT Baba has made bold claims regarding cricket. In 2024, he said that he had contributed to India's T20 World Cup win. He "guided" Rohit Sharma to believe in Hardik Pandya through an unseen network, transmitting signals through devices, towers, and cameras, he claimed.

India vs Pakistan CT 2025 Match
With the match only days off, the world of cricket continues to be in two minds. Is IIT Baba just muddying waters, or is he genuinely invested in his vision? The public will know it on February 23 when India and Pakistan will clash in what is set to be an eye-popping matchup.

After the Indian skipper missed a sitter to deprive the left-arm spinner of a deserved hat-trick against Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group match, Axar Patel could be in for dinner surprise from skipper Rohit Sharma. With Shubman Gill's ton, India eventually won the match by six wickets to make a good beginning to their campaign.
Bangladesh decided to bat, but after the loss of the first three wickets in the seventh over, they were deep in trouble. Axar Patel, who came into the bowling in the ninth over, repaid the favour by getting Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim in his second and third balls respectively.

Rohit Sharma said - “May take Axar Patel for dinner tomorrow (smiles). No, that was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch with the standards I have set for myself. But I do know these things are bound to happen”. pic.twitter.com/UVu7dNGIR6

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 20, 2025

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Rohit action and reply:
Against the hat-trick ball, Axar hit down the right channel and Jaker Ali Anik hit one to Rohit in the slip cordon. Yet, Rohit dropped an easy catch as Axar missed out on the chance of taking the hat-trick. Post the match being won by India with six wickets, Rohit said he might take the all-rounder out for dinner and also admitted that he should have taken the 'easy' catch.

“I may take him for a dinner tomorrow. That was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch, the standards I have set standing in the slips but these things happen,” Rohit was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation ceremony.

The England squad has been declared by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially for their initial Group B fixture of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to take place in Australia. Making an unexpected substitution, Jamie Smith steps back in to claim the wicket-keeping mantle from Phil Salt.
The English cricket team recently played Team India in a series of three ODIs on their way to the Champions Trophy.
ECB announces England's XI for match against Australia
England's inaugural match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy against Australia

ALSO SEE: Rohit Sharma records second fastest 11000 ODI runs

The Group B arch-rivals Australia and England will be played on Saturday, 22nd of February. The highly anticipated game will be hosted by the historic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma started the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament with his powerful batting, and the right-handed batter comfortably reached the 11000 ODI runs mark. He became the second fastest batter to complete 11000 ODI runs. 

After Bangladesh scored 228 runs after incredibly recovering from 35/5, it was important for India to make a good start in the tricky chase on a tougher batting pitch. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill once again provided a good start for the Men in Blue. They set up a crucial 69-run partnership for the opening wicket, where the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma scored 41 off 36 balls before Taskin Ahmed dismissed him in the final over of the first powerplay. He hit seven fours in that impactful innings. 

See Also: Social media shower praises for unstoppable Mohammed Shami

Rohit Sharma completed 11000 ODI runs in 261 innings

Rohit Sharma was playing his 269th ODI match, as the right-handed batter was only 12 runs away to complete his 11000 ODI runs. While it was his 261st ODI innings, the right-handed batter comfortably completed 11000 ODI runs. By reaching 11000 ODI runs in 261 innings, Rohit recorded the second fastest 11000 ODI runs. While his teammate Virat Kohli holds the fastest record for 11000 ODI runs with only 222 innings, Rohit surpassed legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who took 276 ODI innings to reach this milestone. Now, three Indians hold the top three records for the fastest 11000 ODI runs.   

Fastest 11000 ODI runs

Indian cricket has discovered yet another treasure in Harshit Rana, a promising fast bowler who has stormed the world of cricket with his stunning debut performances. In a rare and stunning achievement, Rana has taken three wickets on his debut in all formats and even the Champions Trophy, demonstrating his irrefutable talent and promise.

- 3 wickets on Test Debut.
- 3 wickets on T20I Debut.
- 3 wickets on ODI Debut.
- 3 wickets on Champions Trophy Debut.

HARSHIT RANA IS A STAR...!!!! ✨ pic.twitter.com/MZt5Qzkb4h

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 20, 2025

A Dream Start Across Formats
Impressing in one guise is hard enough, but impressing in all guises is a testament to Rana's ability and temperament. Whether it's the red-ball test of Test cricket, the pace of T20s, or the stress of international competitions like the Champions Trophy, he has performed every time.
Test Debut: 3 wickets, making an impression in the longest version of the game.
T20I Debut: 3 wickets in a hard-fought match.
ODI Debut: A match-winning spell that took 3 wickets.
Champions Trophy Debut: Once more, 3 wickets to leave a mark on the big stage.

ALSO SEE:  Social media shower praises for unstoppable Mohammed Shami

A Future Star of Indian Cricket
Harshit Rana's consistent performance indicates that India has unearthed a future pace leader. His capability to fit into varying conditions, bowl with speed and precision, and play under pressure situations gives the team reasons to look ahead.
With his incredible beginning, Rana has already etched his name in cricket history. If he maintains the same course, Indian cricket supporters can hope to see a new fast-bowling superstar being born.

India asserted strong dominance over the match, leaving Bangladesh at 39/5 in 10 overs. Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, and Axar Patel have put Bangladesh's opening batsmen out of action. The Men in Blue's aggressive bowling performance has kept Bangladesh from finding any rhythm. The most discussed incident of the match so far was in the ninth over when Axar Patel was just one wicket short of a hat-trick.

What Could Have Happen:

If Axar Patel gets his hat trick, then:

A rare miss, a costly moment!

📸: JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/xyF3EsQT1N

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 20, 2025

ALSO SEE:  Md Shami Creates History with a New Bowling Record

Rohit allows a sitter to prevent Axar Patel's hat trick
Having dismissed Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in successive deliveries, the left-arm spinner had an opportunity to produce a rare Champions Trophy hat-trick. His next ball hit the edge of the bat of Jaker Ali, but Rohit Sharma at slip dropped a simple catch, allowing the batter off the hook.
Axar Patel's hat-trick fantasy was crushed by Rohit's expensive miss, leaving the Indian spinner visibly upset. A hat-trick would have been a tournament history moment, but the chance went away from India's hands. Still, Axar has been deadly with the ball, keeping Bangladesh under pressure.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has contributed another milestone to his storied career by achieving 200 international wickets on Asian soil. Famous for his deadly pace, reverse swing, and capacity to strike at pivotal moments, Shami remains a central player in India's bowling unit across formats.

🚨 𝑴𝑰𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑵𝑬 🚨

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami completes 200 international wickets on Asian soil! 🇮🇳🔥

A true match-winner for India 👊#MohammedShami #Tests #ODIs #T20Is #India #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/IKbNYjv12W

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 20, 2025

ALSO SEE: Watch: What Rohit Sharma does after dropping Axar Patel's deserving hat-trick chance?

A Remarkable Feat
Shami's path to 200 wickets in Asia speaks volumes about his consistency and adaptability. As much as subcontinent conditions are thought to be more suited to spinners, Shami has gone against the trend by producing with the ball in red-ball and white-ball cricket. That he has the capacity to induce movement even from slow tracks is what has transformed him into a match-winner on several occasions.

Looking Ahead
With experience and skill being his strong point, Shami will be indispensable to India for future tournaments as well as decisive Test series. With his physical fitness and top form, it is expected that he will collect numerous more wickets in the years to come.

In a big blow to the Pakistan cricket team, opener Fakhar Zaman has been out of the big match against India on Sunday after suffering an injury in the first match of the Champions Trophy. Zaman walked off the field clutching his lower back after making a fielding attempt to stop the ball from reaching the boundary.

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman will not be traveling with the team to Dubai for the highly anticipated showdown against India ❌

The aggressive left-hander suffered an injury in the opening game against New Zealand and is now likely to miss the remaining two… pic.twitter.com/nKGAmNYPOB

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 20, 2025

Despite the injury, Zaman batted for a while but could not open the innings. He came in to bat at No. 4 but his battle with injury seemed apparent. His agonizing stay lasted 41 balls during which he made a free-flowing 24 before being caught by Michael Bracewell.
The India-Pakistan encounter is scheduled for Sunday (February 23) in Dubai. It is a virtual elimination match for Pakistan to remain alive in the competition.

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New Zealand Overwhelm Pakistan
New Zealand comprehensively won the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 by 60 runs. Tom Latham (118) and Will Young (107) played outstandingly to lead the side to 320/5 in their 50 overs.

Pakistan, who are already down one game, would play India in a do-or-die encounter in Dubai with full knowledge that their tournament may be over if they lose. The India game will be played on February 23.

Pakistan has not had an easy time against New Zealand in the past ten days, losing three successive matches in crucial games. The Kiwis have been in great shape, dominating Pakistan in every department. Here's a brief rundown of how events went:

Pakistan in the last 10 days against New Zealand:

8th Feb - NZ beat PAK in Tri series.

14th Feb - NZ beat PAK in Tri series Final.

19th Feb - NZ beat PAK in Champions Trophy.

- THE DOMINATION OF NEW ZEALAND..!!!! pic.twitter.com/C7MB5fuI0B

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 19, 2025

ALSO SEE: Pat Cummins Withdraws from MLC 2025 Due to Workload and Injury Concerns

February 8, 2025 – Tri-Series Match
The series opened with New Zealand posting a record 331, aided by a fantastic 106* by Glenn Phillips. Pakistan resisted with Fakhar Zaman's 84 but fell short and were bowled out for 252. Black Caps are off to a good start.
February 14, 2025 – Tri-Series Final
Pakistan got an opportunity to get their revenge in the final but their batting failed once again, scoring just 242 runs. New Zealand chased it easily, with Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell guiding them to a five-wicket win.
February 19, 2025 – Champions Trophy Group Match
The biggest stage, but the same outcome. New Zealand maintained their winning streak against Pakistan, claiming another win and showing their dominance.
The Takeaway
Three losses, three games – it has not been a good period for Pakistan. New Zealand, on the other hand, have demonstrated why they are amongst the most consistent sides in world cricket. Pakistan will have to regroup and return stronger in their upcoming games.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starts on February 19 in Karachi after a long, long time e. Pakistan was scheduled to host the tournament of this standing of the International Cricket Council. The debut game of the championship, held at the home venue between Pakistan and New Zealand, witnessed an unprecedented poor turnout of viewers at the National Stadium, much of which shocked a former English cricket captain turned renowned TV host and many sports watchers alike.

Empty stands in a big tournament? 🤔🏟️

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan is surprised by the lack of crowd in the Champions Trophy 2025 opener, despite hosts Pakistan playing. 🇵🇰🏏#MichaelVaughan #PAKvNZ #ODIs #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/PjRI74mkV8

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 19, 2025

Empty in a Big Tournament
Pakistan is famous for its ardent cricket followers, and with the Champions Trophy being hosted on home ground for the first time since 1996, there were high hopes of a full stadium. But as the defending champions took to the field, gaping areas of vacant seats in the stands raised doubts about the organization of the tournament and fan participation.
Taking to Twitter, Vaughan was surprised by the crowd, pointing out an unexpected scene as what ought to have been a grand show. Empty half of a stadium for a high-grossing ICC event, particularly when Pakistan is playing, has seen citizens online discuss potential explanations for the poor turnout.

ALSO SEE: Players felt fear after seeing an airplane in the sky during the Champions Trophy.

Can Improve the Attendance
With the tournament just getting underway, there is optimism that attendance will increase in the upcoming games, particularly when Pakistan plays India in a match that always guarantees high ratings and full houses. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the organizers of the event might also have to take action to ensure that attendance is increased and that the Champions Trophy provides the crackling atmosphere that cricket viewers expect.
For the time being, the presence of vacant seats in Karachi has raised an eyebrow, and Michael Vaughan's response only fuels the increasing debate surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025's attendance.