Going by records, India are the clear favourites to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017
Virat Kohli (L) and Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed (R) (Photo: Facebook)
Going by records, India are the clear favourites to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. But then cricket is a game of uncertainties and Pakistan known for throwing up surprises!
On 23 June 2013 (Sunday), India won the ICC Champions Trophy by beating England at Edgbaston. And on 18 June 2017 — again a Sunday that coincides with Father’s Day — India will be defending the title against arch-rival Pakistan at Oval. History weighs heavily in favour of the Men in Blue. This is going to be Pakistan’s first ever Champions Trophy final, while India have entered the last leg of the tourney for the fourth time.
India and Pakistan have faced each other 10 times in the International Cricket Council’s top two events — World Cup and Champions Trophy. India defeated Pakistan six times in the World Cup and twice in Champions Trophy; and Pakistan could muster a victory over India two times in the Champions Trophy. India have not lost to Pakistan in a World Cup fixture yet.
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In ICC Champions Trophy, India were runners-up in 2000, joint winners with Sri Lanka in 2002 and winners in 2013. Till now, the team India has defeated Pakistan four times in the group stage matches in the Champions Trophy.
Of the two finalists this time, Pakistan have surprised everybody from experts to a common cricket lover. The Men in Green reached the finals when most of the teams playing in the tourney were far ahead of them in ranking and perception. Pakistan’s show in the last group stage match against England was their best performance in this tournament. Their bowlers did well to restrict the host team to 211 and batsmen played brilliantly to win the match by eight wickets. India had walloped Pakistan in their first match at Edgbaston and won it by 124 runs.
But Oval is not Edgbaston. It is a new day and a new match. It will be an opportunity for India as well as Pakistan to better their statistics against each other. Who will end up doing that only time will tell.
Happy father's day, anyways!
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