Gill On IND-PAK Rivalry: ‘If So Many People Watch It, How Can It Be Overhyped?’

For the longest time, India vs Pakistan has been seen as the ‘mother of all rivalries’ in cricket, but the matchup has come under fire of late for how underwhelming it’s proven to be.

That’s largely because of the one-sided nature of the contests, particularly in ODIs, with India winning seven of the last eight H2H clashes. The last H2H clash between the two sides in the 50-over format happened at the 2023 ODI World Cup and India cruised their way to victory on that occasion, winning by seven wickets after bowling Pakistan out for 191.

However, ahead of the all-important Champions Trophy 2025 clash between the two sides, team India vice-captain Shubman Gill disagreed that the rivalry was ‘overhyped’.

“I don't believe that over-hype or under-hype is a thing. India-Pakistan has a long history,” Gill said at the pre-match press conference.

“It's an exciting contest when both these teams play. Everyone enjoys watching it. If so many people are happy to watch the match, then who are we to say that it is underhyped or overhyped? We go there to play cricket. 

“Our effort is to play for the team I am playing for, to represent my country, and to win with all my heart,” he added.

But while acknowledging that India-Pakistan is a spectacle, Gill insisted that he and the entire Indian team have been preparing for the contest like any other game.

“We play every match to win the match, and this is no different for us. And this is how we prepare for any match that we play. So that's how we are going to prepare for this one as well,” Gill said of the contest.

India will unquestionably go into the clash as strong favourites, not just because of their strong H2H record against Pakistan but because of Pakistan’s woeful form, with the Men in Green having lost three of their last four ODIs. They got stomped in the curtain raiser of the Champions Trophy, losing to New Zealand by 60 runs.

But Gill asserted that India would be naive to underestimate Pakistan and attested that they would have to bring their ‘A game’ to triumph over their arch-rivals.

“Firstly, I think it is a big match, but I think the biggest match would obviously be the final that the team plays,” Gill said.

“And definitely, we have been playing some good ODI cricket, and Pakistan, unfortunately, I think, have lost some of the matches that they have played recently, but by no means think I we are going to take them as a lesser side. 

“I think they have got a good side, and it is important for us to bring our A game tomorrow.”