India will begin their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. While the team is in good form after a 3-0 whitewash over England, they will miss Jasprit Bumrah due to injury. Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Mohammed Shami are expected to lead the pace attack, with India likely to field three of their five spinners.
India’s return to Dubai for a match after a significant gap is expected to draw a full crowd this Thursday afternoon. Based on AccuWeather, temperatures during the game will range from 24°C to 27°C.
Although the actual temperature will feel a few degrees warmer in the afternoon, it’s expected to cool down as the evening progresses. Under the floodlights, the temperature will likely feel a couple of degrees cooler than the reported temperature.
The forecast indicates mostly sunny weather with a slight chance of rain, pegged at 7%. However, the rainfall is unlikely to affect the match or cause any interruptions to the overs.
“There are many factors that need to align before you can get your hands on that trophy,” said Rohit Sharma, reflecting on India’s chances in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Ahead of the Bangladesh match, the Indian team captain emphasized that while the team is focused on winning the prestigious tournament, several things must go right for them to achieve that goal. Speaking to reporters, Rohit shared his thoughts (via Cricbuzz):
“It’s been nearly eight years since 2017, and not just the Champions Trophy, but all the previous World Cups we’ve played in have been significant for us. This one is no different. The ICC Champions Trophy is a crucial tournament for the entire team. We all come into this with the goal of lifting the trophy, but we know that there are many steps we need to take before we can even think about holding it.”
“As a team, our main focus will be on doing everything right on the field and progressing step by step. Our aim is to take things one game at a time, staying focused on the process and moving forward with each match,” he added.