Both teams might have regarded it as merely another match, yet the players from India and Pakistan are acutely conscious of the excitement, expectations, and pressures from millions of fans. Consequently, in an effort to gain an advantage over Pakistan with semifinal qualification on the line at the 2025 Champions Trophy, India reportedly opted for a clandestine training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai, a fact that even the ICC was not privy to.

As reported by Dainik Jagran, the Indian team had planned their practice for 4 p.m. on Saturday; however, Virat Kohli, along with his coaching staff, arrived five and a half hours earlier. The remainder of the Indian squad showed up at 11 a.m. Typically, during ICC tournaments, both domestic and international media outlets receive notifications regarding pre-match practices, but none were informed of India's secret session, according to the report. By the time the media arrived at the location, India was already midway through their training. An ICC representative informed the newspaper that they were unable to provide details about India's practice as they had no prior knowledge of it.

India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE

The report indicated that the management of the Indian team informed the national daily that conducting practice sessions late in the day prior to a match results in a delayed conclusion, which subsequently affects the players' ability to return to the hotel in time for dinner. This situation ultimately reduces the players' available time for rest. Consequently, they opted to commence their practice sessions earlier.

India a win away from semifinal

India commenced their Champions Trophy campaign with a victory. With a remarkable five-wicket performance from Mohammed Shami and a century by Shubman Gill on a challenging pitch in Dubai, India secured a six-wicket win against Bangladesh in their opening match on Thursday. This outcome places them just one victory away from a spot in the ICC tournament's semifinals.

Conversely, Pakistan faced a defeat against New Zealand by 60 runs in their opening match in Karachi on Wednesday, compounded by the loss of their key player, Fakhar Zaman, due to injury. Should they lose on Sunday, their chances of advancing in the tournament will be severely diminished.

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