It’s the greatest cricketing occasion of the calendar yr because the world’s greatest eight groups get able to lock horns with each other within the ICC Champions Trophy which will get underway in Karachi from the nineteenth of February. The million-dollar query then is – who’re the favourites to win the match? How a lot will home-advantage assist Pakistan? Why are New Zealand once more the Darkish Horse and what’s ailing Australia, England and South Africa?
India – the very best affect batting unit
India are, by a ways, one of the best batting unit going into the match. They’ve one of the best batting common and strike charge in ODI cricket since 2023 which implies that not solely are they scoring large however are additionally doing so at an alarming charge! India have crossed 350 on as many as 10 events within the final couple of years – essentially the most for any staff on this timeframe. They’ve annihilated the opposition by a margin of 100 or extra runs in 9 encounters whereas hammering them by seven or extra wickets in 9 extra! They dominated the 2023 World Cup at residence earlier than working into Australia within the last.
India are the primary ranked ODI staff on this planet and on the prime of their recreation within the format. They’re in kind having smashed England 3-0 at residence of their final bilateral collection earlier than the Champions Trophy.
Rohit Sharma could also be on the cusp of retirement in Check cricket however stays a dynamic power on the prime of the order for India in ODIs – as he just lately showcased with a masterclass hundred in a 300-plus chase in opposition to England in Cuttack. Kohli nonetheless boasts of the very best batting common in ODI historical past whereas no batter on this planet has scored extra runs than Shubman Gill since 2023. Shreyas Iyer has returned with a bang and was in scintillating kind within the collection in opposition to England – he is an excellent participant of spin and will probably be key within the center overs in Dubai. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will present the impetus on the loss of life.
Whereas Jasprit Bumrah‘s unavailability is an enormous blow for Crew India and he will probably be missed in crunch conditions particularly within the knockouts, the Males in Blue nonetheless have sufficient high quality within the bowling division to trigger hassle to any opposition line-up. Mohammed Shami might not have had one of the best of comebacks in opposition to England however his strike charge of 25.7 is one of the best in ODI cricket historical past for no less than 150 wickets! Kuldeep Yadav is Indias highest wicket-taker in ODIs since 2023 with 55 wickets in 34 innings at a mean of 21.76 and economic system of 4.51 whereas Varun Chakravarthy is on the peak of his prowess in white-ball cricket.
India will steamroll their opponents on flat decks and have top quality spinners to trigger hassle on turning tracks.
Dwelling Benefit for Pakistan?
Pakistan have two issues going for them forward of the match. The defending champions will probably be taking part in in acquainted circumstances at residence in entrance of vociferous and passionate crowds. Secondly, the staff’s batting line-up seems to be extra secure than ever earlier than within the final 10 years with much less dependency on their two stalwarts – Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Fakhar Zaman (4 tons of in final 22 innings) and Salman Agha (Pakistan’s highest scorer in tri-series in February) have been in superb kind in ODI cricket and this augurs effectively for the hosts.
Nonetheless, like with all Pakistan groups of the previous, their probabilities of making the final 4 will rely on their quick bowlers – on the tempo trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. Afridi is the main wicket-taker in ODIs since 2023 with 63 dismissals in simply 30 matches whereas Rauf has been good within the loss of life overs with a strike charge of 13 and economic system of 6.5 on this timeframe.
Pakistan have an honest document at residence having gained 13 of their 19 ODIs since 2021. Nonetheless, this home-advantage might additionally become a giant burden if they’ve an detached begin to their marketing campaign which begins with a troublesome encounter in opposition to New Zealand at Karachi.
New Zealand – Darkish Horse
New Zealand’s triumph within the tri-series in Pakistan would have given a big increase to their possibilities on the Champions Trophy. Kane Williamson‘s kind – he scored 225 runs within the collection with 100 and a fifty – could be the most important constructive for New Zealand from the collection. Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell – each wonderful gamers of spin – could be the 2 different batters to be careful for in Pakistan. Mitchell is the main scorer for New Zealand in ODIs since 2023 with 5 tons in 30 innings at a mean of near 50 and strike charge of virtually 100!
Matt Henry will lead the tempo assault and has been New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker within the final couple of years with 39 dismissals in 24 matches at rather less than 25 apiece. Skipper, Mitchell Santner will probably be key within the center overs and has additionally bagged 30 wickets at an economic system of 4.76 since 2023.
New Zealand’s skill to boost their recreation in large ICC occasions and punch above their weight will make them the Darkish Horse for the match. They’ve made the semi-final of the three earlier 50-over World Cups and two of the final three T20 World Cups.
Absence of tempo trio will damage Australia
Australia has large causes to fret forward of the match. Not solely have been they humiliated within the bilateral collection in Sri Lanka with their batting unit folding like 9 pins however they will even be with out the companies of their tempo trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the Champions Trophy.
The Australian batting line-up fully collapsed of their final 4 ODIs in opposition to Pakistan and Sri Lanka and failed to the touch 170 even as soon as. Their over-dependency on Travis Head for a fast begin on the prime of the order can’t be overstated. The left-hander is their highest affect batter since 2023 with 840 runs in 19 matches at a mean of 52.5 and strike charge of 128.
Within the absence of the quicks, the onus of main the bowling unit will probably be on Adam Zampa. The leg spinner has been in great kind in ODI cricket and is Australia’s main wicket-taker since 2023 with 54 wickets in 32 matches at a mean of 28.3. He was Australia’s highest wicket-taker of the 2023 World Cup.
England take a look at sea within the 50-over format
England have come a full circle in ODI cricket and at the moment are precisely the place they have been after their early exit from the 2015 World Cup. That they had a horrid 2023 World Cup ending seventh on the desk and have been in poor kind in 50-over cricket within the final couple of years. England have simply gained 14 and misplaced 20 of their final 35 matches and have been thrashed 3-0 by India of their final bilateral collection.
The batting is a serious reason behind concern for England. Barring Ben Duckett, none of their different batters common above 40 since 2023. The mixed batting common of their prime 6 locations them within the backside cluster on this timeframe.
Prime-order woes for South Africa
South Africa have had a troublesome run put up the 2023 World Cup in India. They’ve misplaced 10 of their 14 matches which features a home-series defeat by the hands of Afghanistan! They fared poorly within the current tri-series in Pakistan dropping to the hosts and New Zealand.
South Africa has large points with their prime and center order with a mixed common of simply 28.21 of their final 14 matches. The bowling has not fared higher both with a mean of 34.95 inserting them within the backside cluster on this timeframe.
Prediction
India are anticipated to win all their encounters, prime Group A and storm into the semi-final. This basically implies that the match opener between Pakistan and New Zealand might effectively be a shootout for the second semi-final spot from the group. Australia know elevate their recreation within the large ICC occasions and may prevail in Group B which implies that the conflict between England and South Africa is a possible quarter-final. Until, after all, Afghanistan are planning to jot down their very own script!
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