ICC Champions Trophy 2013: Is this India's year?

India has looked so good in this ongoing tournament primarily because the traditionally strong sides have performed pathetically so far. Australia and Pakistan have been nothing short of horrendous, and the form of some other teams has been wildly inconsistent. Sri Lanka was bowled out for a meagre 138 in their first match on a belter of a wicket. and the same line up chased 290-odd runs against England in their next match. New Zealand has managed to consistently punch above its weight in ICC tournaments, and it remains to be seen if they can do so again this year. South Africa remain the closest contender for the title apart from India now, but the ‘chokers’ tag will be weighing heavily in their minds now, and it will be interesting to see if they manage to shed it and bring a long-deserved victory for a nation that has produced some of the all-time greats in the game. Their’s is by far the best bowling attack in the world today, and the deadly Dale Steyn is capable of winning matches single-handedly.

England are considered a strong side purely because of their home advantage, because their enormous talent fails to deliver in crunch situations. The absence of their best batsman has made their middle order relatively inexperienced, and it is capable of capitulating in pressure situations. Morgan remains their X-factor in this tournament for now, and it will be heartening to see him do justice to his amazing talent. Having said that, it can be anyone’s day at a knockout game, and England would do well to believe in itself to win, something that it has consistently lacked in ICC events.

For India, Shikhar Dhawan is in red hot form, producing centuries at will, and his partnership with Rohit Sharma at the top has given good starts for the team in all its matches so far. Jadeja is finally managing to turn heads for the right reasons; the new ball bowlers, led by the searing pace of Yadav, are managing early breakthroughs and Dhoni’s shrewd mind has been the focal point of the team’s successful strategies. The new entrants in the team have so far not made us miss the legends that are no more in the team, and we sincerely hope they continue to not make us miss them. India remain the firm favourites at this point in the tournament and the fans will be hoping for a victory as a compensation for the embarrassment that was India’s last visit to these shores.