Sunil Gavaskar obliterates Pakistan amid Champions Trophy humiliation: 'I think India B team can...'

Sunil Gavaskar obliterates Pakistan amid Champions Trophy humiliation (AP/BCCI Photo)

The miseries continued for Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as the country made a group stage exit in the elite ICC tournament. The Men In Green were humbled by 60 runs in the tournament opener by New Zealand, and the team endured a six-wicket humiliation against India, which many argued would have been a grudge match considering the tainted relations between the two boards, especially after India refused to travel the country for the tournament.

However, Pakistan fell short in both departments of the game in both the encounters, leading to their elimination from the Champions Trophy, the first ICC tournament the country hosted in 29 years. This has also led to sharp criticism and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar feels even a India B team will give this Pakistan side a hard run for their money.

"I think a B team (from India) certainly (can give Pakistan a run for their money). C team, I am not too sure. But a B team will be very, very hard to beat for Pakistan in their current form," Gavaskar said on Sports Today.

Also Read: India given 'huge advantage': Pat Cummins slams unfair ICC Champions Trophy decision

Since winning the Champions Trophy in 2017, Pakistan's cricketing fortunes have declined, with the team finishing fifth in the last two ODI World Cups. "I think it's surprising-this lack of bench strength. Pakistan always had natural talent. Natural in the sense that they may not have always been technically correct, but they had an instinctive understanding of bat and ball," Gavaskar said.

"Look at Inzamam-ul-Haq, for example. If you look at his stance, you wouldn’t recommend that to a young batter, but he had great temperament. With that kind of temperament, he made up for any technical shortcomings."

Also Read | Melbourne to Dubai: Relive 5 greatest performances by Virat Kohli against Pakistan

Gavaskar also noted that despite the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and domestic white-ball tournaments, Pakistan has struggled to produce quality players. "How has India produced so many young stars in white-ball cricket? It’s because of the IPL," said the former India skipper.

"Players from there have gone on to play in the Ranji Trophy and eventually for India. That is something Pakistan cricket must analyse. They need to figure out why they no longer have the bench strength they once did."

-with PTI inputs