Published: May 16, 2017, 03:59 PM (IST)
Edited: May 16, 2017, 03:59 PM (IST)
India, defending champions of the ICC Champions Trophy, have their task cut out as soon as they reach England for the upcoming edition. The 2017 Champions Trophy begins June 1, and India will play their first game against Pakistan. India may have never lost to Pakistan in any World Cup or World T20 match so far, but the same cannot be said for the Champions Trophy, which is also famously known as the mini World Cup. At Edgbaston in September 2004, Pakistan had defeated India by 3 wickets; and five years later at Centurion they triumphed again, by 54 runs. Heading into the tournament, Sachin Tendulkar has a special message for the Virat Kohli-led team.
“I think we have a very strong team. There is balance as well as a lot of talent in the team. Under Virat’s leadership we should be able to achieve what the whole nation wants to. I want the team to give its best. There are high hopes and expectations. It is important to have such expectations. It is like a tonic, which means you are good enough and that is why there are expectations,” Tendulkar told News Nation.
Tendulkar, who recently completed his 10-year association with Mumbai Indians, two-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), declined picking a favourite but also gave an important message for the contesting teams.
When asked about which team is his favourite, Tendulkar said, “I think only about that team which I am with. I have been associated with one team, Mumbai Indians, for last 10 years. The performance this year has been very good. There are a few young players who have performed at crucial points, such as Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Rana, Hardik and Krunal Pandya … All players will have to come together to perform if they have to win the championship. If a team does not play as a unit then you cannot win a championship.”
