‘India Was Nothing…’: Sarfaraz Ahmed Recalls Pakistan’s Iconic 2017 Champions Trophy Win & Predicts 2025 Semi-Finalists
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to begin next week after an eight-year gap, anticipation is building among cricket fans worldwide. All eight teams have finalized their squads, and preparations are in full swing for what promises to be a thrilling tournament.
As excitement for this year’s mega event reaches its peak, former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has taken a trip down memory lane, revisiting Pakistan’s historic 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, where they defeated arch-rivals India by 180 runs in the final at The Oval.
In an exclusive interview with the ICC, Sarfaraz opened up about his team’s journey from a crushing defeat in the league stage against India to lifting the trophy in emphatic fashion. He also shared his semi-finalist predictions for the upcoming 2025 edition, including Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan.
‘India Was Nothing We Had Not Seen’ – Sarfaraz on 2017 Champions Trophy Final
The 2017 Champions Trophy remains one of Pakistan’s most iconic triumphs in ICC tournament history. While Pakistan started the tournament with a heavy loss to India, they bounced back strongly, culminating in a stunning performance in the final, where they completely outclassed Virat Kohli’s men.
Recalling that incredible turnaround, Sarfaraz credited a crucial team meeting after the group-stage loss to India, where senior players like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez played an instrumental role in boosting team morale.
“Afterwards (following defeat to India in the group stage), we had a great team meeting, and some of our senior guys – Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez – all said their piece. You need those types of characters around you.”
Sarfaraz revealed that Pakistan changed their entire mindset from that day, which led to a remarkable resurgence, including a dominant semi-final performance against England before their famous final victory over India.
“We changed our mindset from that day. The acrimony was very good for us, we made a couple of changes to the team and it helped our confidence,”
Sarfaraz explained.
Pakistan’s bowlers played a key role throughout the knockout stages, dismissing England cheaply in the semi-final before delivering an incredible performance in the final against India.
Speaking about the mental approach leading up to the final, Sarfaraz said he urged his players to stay relaxed despite the high stakes.
“We played England in the semi-finals and our bowlers were just superb…Then, it was India in the final. I was just confident our level was very high and my message to the players ahead of the final was to relax.”
He further emphasized that Pakistan had already beaten some of the best teams in the tournament, and facing India again did not intimidate them.
“We knew we had beaten some of the best teams, so India was nothing we had not seen.”
The final was a one-sided affair, with Fakhar Zaman’s blistering century (114 off 106 balls) and a ruthless bowling performance from Mohammad Amir (who dismissed Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan) securing Pakistan’s first-ever Champions Trophy title.
Sarfaraz Ahmed Predicts Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Finalists
With the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy returning, Pakistan will enter the tournament as the defending champions, playing on home soil. Naturally, expectations will be sky-high for Babar Azam’s men.
Speaking about the upcoming tournament, Sarfaraz acknowledged the pressure Pakistan will face but expressed confidence in their ability to perform.
“There will be high pressure on Pakistan, playing in their home conditions and being the defending champions.”
When asked about his semi-finalist predictions, Sarfaraz picked Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan as his four favorites to make the final four.
“If I had to pick four semi-finalists, I’d probably go for Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan at this stage, but I would not rule anyone out.”
His selection of Afghanistan over teams like England, New Zealand, and South Africa highlights the meteoric rise of Afghan cricket, especially with world-class spinners like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad leading their bowling attack.
Champions Trophy 2025: Key Details & Tournament Format
📍 Host Nations & Hybrid Model
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will follow a hybrid model, with matches being hosted in:
- Pakistan (Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi)
- Dubai (For India’s matches & one semi-final)
If India qualifies for the final, the match will be shifted from Lahore to Dubai due to security concerns.
🏏 India’s Opening Match
📅 India vs Bangladesh
📍 Dubai International Stadium
🕖 February 20, 2025
The tournament will feature eight teams, divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Fan Reactions: ‘India Was Nothing’ Statement Sparks Debate
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s bold remarks about India in 2017 have ignited a heated discussion among fans, with many taking to social media to express their opinions.
🔥 “Pakistan played like champions that day, but to say ‘India was nothing’ is a stretch. We all remember what happened in the group stage!”
😂 “Sarfaraz still living in 2017… but can Pakistan do it again in 2025?”
🏏 “Pakistan had their day in 2017, but India has dominated ICC events since. Will we see another epic Indo-Pak final?”
The India-Pakistan rivalry remains one of the biggest spectacles in world cricket, and with both teams among the favorites for the 2025 edition, another high-stakes clash could be on the horizon.
📺 Where to Watch Champions Trophy 2025?
Cricket fans can catch all the Champions Trophy 2025 action live on:
📡 TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network (India), PTV Sports (Pakistan), Sky Sports (UK)
📱 Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar (India), Kayo Sports (Australia), and Sky Go (UK)
🕖 Match Timings: To be confirmed closer to the tournament
Can Pakistan Repeat Their 2017 Success?
While Pakistan stunned the world in 2017, the road to the 2025 title will be much tougher. With teams like India, Australia, England, and South Africa boasting world-class squads, Pakistan will need to replicate their fearless cricket from 2017 to defend their title.
As the countdown to the tournament begins, all eyes will be on whether Sarfaraz’s semi-final predictions come true and if Pakistan can once again outclass India on the biggest stage.
Will We See Another India-Pakistan Final?
With both teams in top form, an India-Pakistan Champions Trophy final in 2025 could become one of the biggest cricket matches in history.
Do you agree with Sarfaraz’s semi-final predictions? Will Pakistan defend their title, or will India reclaim the trophy after 12 years? Let us know in the comments!
