“First, Pakistan was out of final, now, final is out of Pakistan” – Harbhajan Singh’s cheeky dig!

India’s dominant run in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has taken them straight to the final, but the journey hasn’t been without its fair share of drama—both on and off the field. Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh made headlines with a sharp remark aimed at Pakistan, the designated host nation, which has now been sidelined from its own tournament.

Harbhajan Singh mocks Pakistan

With the final set to take place in Dubai on March 9, India’s matches had already been scheduled at neutral venues, ensuring that if they progressed beyond the group stage, they wouldn’t play in Pakistan. After securing a spot in the title clash, Harbhajan took to social media, posting in Hindi, “First, Pakistan was knocked out of the tournament. Now, the final is out of Pakistan.” The comment quickly gained traction, sparking reactions across cricketing circles.

Pakistan’s campaign in the Champions Trophy was nothing short of disastrous. They were the first team to be eliminated, failing to secure a single win in the group stage. The tournament opener against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi set the tone, as Pakistan stumbled to a defeat. The much-anticipated clash against India on February 23 in Dubai ended in another loss, deepening their woes. The final group-stage match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27 was abandoned due to rain, sealing Pakistan’s fate without a single victory.

Meanwhile, India’s performance has been nothing less than spectacular. In the semi-final against Australia on March 4, Virat Kohli once again proved why he’s a match-winner, playing a stellar knock of 84 runs to guide India to victory. With this win, India are all set to lock horns with New Zealand, who defeated South Africa in the second semi-final.

As the cricketing world gears up for the grand finale, the focus remains on India’s pursuit of yet another ICC title—and the off-field banter that has added an extra layer of spice to the tournament.

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New Zealand Triumph Over South Africa to Set Up Final Clash with India