ICC Champions Trophy 2017, India preview: Defending champions look forward to cross ‘fatigue’ and ‘expectation’ hurdle

Virat Kohli-led Team India has much more in stake at ICC Champions Trophy 2017 than getting just another opportunity of playing cricket with Pakistan. The media, marketers, fans are already going gaga over the June 4 clash at Edgbaston, but Kohli has termed it as just another contest: “For people watching in the stadium, the game is different as is the atmosphere around the ground. But if you ask players from both sides, it is like any other game. There is no need to motivate players any differently. If you are playing for India, there is no need for any separate motivation. Yes, you need to be passionate, but there is no need to get emotional.”

India have more at stake. Much more. They enter the tournament as defending champions. Last time, India benefited from the calm and calculated gambling approach from MS Dhoni. At helm now is Kohli. He will be under microscopic introspection of cricket fraternity after he replaced one of the most successful leaders in history. This will undoubtedly be his biggest captaincy test so far. 

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Stepping into the massive boots of Dhoni, Kohli has led India to glory in Tests adapting methods in complete contrast with his illustrious predecessor. Champions Trophy is a different kettle. Kohli’s on-the-face aggression and spontaneity are aspects the team is not used to in big tournaments, especially after a decade-long Dhoni-reign. 

India are currently at No. 3 in ICC ODI Rankings, just below South Africa and Australia. As defending champions, they start the tournament as one of the favourites alongside the aforementioned and hosts England. 

Digging deeper with a SWOT. 

Strengths 

Fresh guard: With diminishing results and stagnant approach under Dhoni lately, the leadership change is a fresh approach. Also, India have done well under Kohli so far. 

Impressive record in England: India have won close to 51 per cent of their ODIs in England. In last five years, the percentage shoots up to an impressive 89 (8 out of 9). Not only have India won the 2013 Champions Trophy here, they also followed it up with a convincing series win against the hosts in a bilateral ODI series. 

Batting strength: India have a balanced unit, a mix of youth and experience. In Kohli, they have one of the finest batters in limited-overs cricket. Kohli also has an excellent record in Champions Trophy. Shikhar Dhawan has excellent numbers in England. Ajinkya Rahane seems to flourish here as well. 

The exceptional pace battery: India had Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath (and Ajit Agarkar, who did not even get a chance) in the 2003 World Cup. The pacers gave India plenty of joyous moments before their honeymoon in the tournament came to a halt in the final. Never since have India boasted such an armoury in their pace department till this Champions Trophy. Of course, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma were good in 2015 World Cup too. 

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This time India have Shami, Umesh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah in their ranks. Then there is Hardik Pandya. Shami leads the pack due to versatility. Umesh is the most improved bowler this season. Bumrah is amongst the most cerebral bowlers in limited-overs, and perhaps the finest death-bowler in the world. And Bhuvi will bring his T20 skills to the table at the dead end along with his ability to get prodigious swing.

There is also Pandya, someone capable of consistently clocking in excess of 140 kph. 

Adding to this, spinners-in-chief Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have proven records in England. 

Weaknesses 

Kohli’s temperament? Kohli’s composure as leader in a mega tournament is yet to be seen. He has failed to impress in terms of results as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL despite having an explosive team at disposal. This edition RCB hit a new low, finishing last with only 3 wins. 

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“It was so bizarre, everything we tried was just going against us. I have never experienced that in a side, you know, not eleven but all the fifteen guys in the squad were in the mindset. Maybe it was to teach me that you need to balance things out and take a backward step in how much you can do on the field and how much intensity you can play with, maybe choose your phases,” Kohli put the experience behind as a learning. Champions Trophy seldom gives a second chance and it is important for the side to peak from the beginning. 

X-factor: Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni, Kohli and Rahane average in the 30s in England in the 50-over format. Kedar Jadhav and Pandya have not played here. Jadhav and Jadeja’s show in IPL was ordinary. Ashwin is coming off a two-month injury layoff. KL Rahul and Manish Pandey were in form before they bowed out due to injury. 

The team wears a balanced look. There is no doubt if they play to their potential, they may still go on to shine. 

Opportunities 

India may go on to become the second team after Australia to clinch back-to-back edition of Champions Trophy. In fact, no other side has won the trophy twice. 

Ruthlessness: Dhoni used to speak about ‘processes’. Kohli speaks about ‘ruthlessness’. He believes in going for the kill without losing a game. Ricky Ponting’s Australians, anyone? 

Here is an opportunity for Kohli to brand this new identity of Team India at a global stage. Also, with 2019 World Cup being staged in similar conditions in two years’ time, the preparation ground could not have been better. 

Top-order conundrum: As Kohli singled out the biggest positive from last Champions Trophy, “the revelation of Rohit and Shikhar as an opening pair.” The pair has given the side enough moments to cherish but over the last year: injuries, form worries have led to frequent changes. 

Rahane and Rahul have been brought in the mix as well, but since the Australia ODIs in 2015-16, India have struggled in this department. Here is a chance for Rohit and Dhawan to prove a point. 

The good bit for India is the flexibility. If Jadhav’s form remains a worry, India have the option to push Rohit in the middle order and include Rahane in the mix to open the innings. 

Opening stand records (from this squad) 

Threats

The pillars: Once upon a time, long, long ago… there lived two men who made the world believe in fairy tales. A strong elegant southpaw with an attitude and a long-haired unobtrusive muscleman from Ranchi became synonymous to successful finishes. Later, when Yuvraj butchered Stuart Broad for six-sixes, Dhoni had the best seat at the non-striker’s end. Both were the men at crease when India lifted the 2011 World Cup. 

There were ups and downs, Yograjs, curses, critics and politics, but Kohli the skipper has managed to unite Dhoni and Yuvraj in the middle-order in India’s last assignment against England. 

“It was good to see both of them express themselves in the last series and enjoy batting alongside each other,” said Kohli when asked about their roles. He further called them “the two strongest pillars”. 

In their mid-30s and well past their prime, can Dhoni and Yuvraj be the pillars strong enough to hold the Indian middle-order? ODI cricket has changed significantly: can they live up to the newer demands? 

FATIGUE: Perhaps the biggest threat. India may have the strongest pace-bowling line-up, but the long season followed by IPL can leave them fatigued. Consider the heat, the travel, the extreme conditions, the mental pressure to be at top of the game; add to that the physical workload to it. 

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Nitin Patel, India’s physio from 2007 to 2015, has provided some words of respite: “We were in a similar situation in 2013. The IPL final was on May 26 and India’s first game in the Champions Trophy was on June 6. It is a similar situation now. The IPL final was on May 21 and India’s first game is on June 4. One must consider that the modern-day player is far more aware about workloads and rest and recovery plans than players even five years ago. Indian players and support staff have the maximum expertise to handle such situations. Since the last five years, we have handled many such situations,” Patel, who is now a part of the Mumbai Indians setup, told The Times of India. 

Shami has a history of breaking down and fitness has also hampered Bhuvneshwar’s progress at the top. A case of repeat could put India’s chances in disarray.

India’s squad for Champions Trophy 2017: Virat Kohli (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, Yuvraj Singh

In past editions of Champions Trophy 

Dhaka, 1998: India played the inaugural Champions Trophy, then called ICC Knockout, under Mohammad Azharuddin. After a convincing win against Australia in the quarter-final (thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s 141 and four-wicket haul), India were done by Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s brilliance in the semi-final after Philo Wallace struck the first ball of the innings for six. India lost to West Indies by 6 wickets. South Africa went on to be the eventual champions.

Nairobi, 2000:The new India under Sourav Ganguly were the most ruthless side in the competition. India managed to cross the Australian and South African hurdles and dominated most of the final as well before a Chris Cairns hurricane hundred dashed their dreams in the final. India ended runners-up to New Zealand but won hearts and belief of fans, who had lost trust on the sport post the infamous Cronje-gate earlier that year. 

Colombo, 2002: Pitted against England and Zimbabwe in Pool 2, India topped it, won a thriller against South Africa in the semi-final before rain hampered their progress in the final. The final against Sri Lanka was washed out, as was the repeat match on the reserve day. Ganguly’s men laid their hands on the trophy but only as joint-winners. 

England, 2004: India were placed in Group C alongside Kenya and Pakistan. The Kenya barrier was crossed with ease by both the sides, making the India-Pakistan contest at Edgbaston a virtual quarter-final. Pakistan prevailed as Ganguly’s India failed to progress beyond group stage. 
Thirteen years on, we are set for a rematch at the same venue. West Indies were the eventual champions of the 2004 edition beating hosts England. Surprisingly, West Indies have not qualified for the 2017 edition. 

India, 2006: Rahul Dravid led India and the tournament witnessed several controversies towards the build-up. West Indies and Sri Lanka had entered the tournament via qualifiers. India were in Group A alongside Australia, West Indies and England. India could only beat England and hence could not qualify beyond group stage. Australia won the trophy for the first time, defeating West Indies in the final. 

South Africa, 2009: This was the first time Dhoni led India in a major 50-over tournament. India faced another group stage exit. They beat West Indies convincingly but lost to Pakistan, while their match against Australia ended in a washout. Australia beat New Zealand in the final to retain the trophy. 

England, 2013: The tournament was played in the backdrop of the IPL spot-fixing controversy. Once again Indian cricket was at its lowest ebb. Placed in Group B, India convincingly beat South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan to enter the semi-final. Stopping Sri Lanka there was a cakewalk. They went on to topple England in a rain-curtailed thriller in the final to be crowed champions. 

India’s record in Champions Trophy 

Champions: 2002 (joint), 2013

Runners-up: 2000 

India’s top batsmen in Champions Trophy 

India’s top bowlers in Champions Trophy 

India’s ICC ODI Ranking: 3

India’s ODI form over the last year:

• Won in Zimbabwe 3-0
• Beat New Zealand in India 3-2
• Beat England in India 2-1 

Fixtures in Champions Trophy 2017:

• Sunday, May 28:  Warm-up match vs New Zealand, The Oval
• Tuesday, May 30: Warm-up match vs Bangladesh, The Oval
• Sunday, June 4: vs Pakistan, Edgbaston
• Thursday, June 8: vs Sri Lanka, The Oval
• Sunday, June 11: vs South Africa, The Oval