Google celebrates commencement of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 with an interactive doodle

Can India maintain their dominance over Pakistan in ICC events: India have a very dominating record over Pakistan in ICC events.

“And I believe that Virat Kohli will depend a lot on Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, possibly two of the best death bowlers in world cricket, to bowl well at the end”, Laxman told IANS.

England and Bangladesh have got proven set of skills but notably both the teams couldn’t fair that well in the last match that they played ahead of the tournament.

India go into the tournament as the defending champions and their campaign starts on June 4 when they lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston. From the choice of Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman, one of them will play the No. 3 in the batting lineup.

Asked if winning the Champions Trophy would bolster the players’ cause, Smith said: “I think, if we win, nearly certainly it would be really good for the playing group”.

The last time India and Pakistan were engaged in a 50-over game was during the ICC World Cup in 2015.

The Champions Trophy, which is being hosted in England and Wales this year, will see team of 8 nations – India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, England, South Africa.

“For me, bowling to Kohli was always a challenge and Pakistani bowlers would have to be on top of their game against him”, Afridi added.

Shoaib Malik is one of the most experienced player in the Pakistan Cricket team.

England have won the toss and chosen to bowl first against Bangladesh in Thursday’s opening match of the Champions Trophy at The Oval.

India’s heroic chase of 274, started with a remarkable six by Sachin Tendulkar of Shoaib Akhtar towards the deep third man. Tendulkar was dismissed on 98 amidst cramps, but the damage was done.

Swing bowling could play a key role in deciding the destiny of the Champions Trophy, particularly if conditions are overcast. When asked about the importance of the tournament Laxman differed from his former teammate’s comment. This will be Kohli’s first major ICC assignment as skipper of the Indian team.

Laxman also named his four semi-finalists of the tournament.

On the pitch, India would go into the tie as favourites, as former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has also said – not only due to their emphatic 45 and 240 -run wins in the two warm-up games, but because the opposition doesn’t smell the same anymore.