A moment of brilliance from Axar Patel turned the game on its head as he ran out Imam-ul-Haq in stunning fashion. In the 10th over, Imam, feeling the pressure of dots, stepped out and pushed a Kuldeep Yadav delivery straight to Axar at mid-on. Sensing hesitation between the batters, Axar pounced, gathered quickly, and fired a direct hit at the bowler’s end. Imam, slow to react, attempted a desperate dive, but it was too late. Replays confirmed he was well short—Pakistan lost their second wicket in minutes. However, before the replays' confirmation, team India started celebrating with Imam halfway towards the dugout. Watch the video here: ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐ฏ๐ฅAxar Patel with a stunning direct hit and Imam-ul-Haq is caught short! A moment of brilliance in the #GreatestRivalry—can Pakistan recover from this setback? ๐๐ฅ#ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar ๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ ๐ ๐ต๐ฐ | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star… pic.twitter.com/vkrBMgrxTi — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 23, 2025 Earlier, Hardik Pandya had drawn the first blood in the 9th over, getting Babar Azam caught behind for 23 off 26 balls. Babar, looking to drive, nicked one that moved away, and KL Rahul completed a sharp catch diving to his right. From a steady start, Pakistan suddenly found themselves two down, leaving Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel with a rescue act. Read also: IND vs PAK Live: ICC CT 2025 Match 5 - Ball-by-Ball Commentary Pakistan slows down Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to put past struggles against New Zealand behind them. With Fakhar Zaman injured, Imam-ul-Haq was brought into the XI, while Babar Azam played despite morning illness concerns. India, despite losing the toss, remained confident, with Rohit Sharma backing his bowlers to exploit a slightly slow pitch that could assist both wrist and finger spinners. A competitive total was expected to be around 270. Pakistan, after a steady start, has lost momentum, with Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan struggling to accelerate. At 90/2 in 23 overs, their run rate stands at just 3.91, reflecting a cautious approach. Shakeel has managed 26 off 42 balls, while Rizwan is even slower at 18 off 44, striking at just 40.90. Despite India's bowlers conceding 13 extras, including 8 wides, Pakistan has failed to capitalize on loose deliveries. Even though Rizwan started with few boundaries, he seemed to slow down as the game progressed. With nearly half the innings gone, a shift in gears is crucial. Pakistan risks falling behind if the acceleration does not come soon. The next phase of play will be key in determining whether they can build a competitive total or succumb to mounting pressure.