India will beat Pakistan, win Champions Trophy: Laxman

Australian batsman Chris Lynn has expressed his doubt whether he will start against New Zealand in his side’s Champions Trophy opener, but added he is ready to take his Indian Premier League (IPL) form into the global arena.

Out of their 38 matches, India have won 31, lost six and with the 2011 World Cup game against England resulting in a tie – a highly creditable winning percentage of 81%.

“What’s important in England is to hit the seam well”. It was only in the one-off T20I where Kohli managed to score 66 in a losing cause.

While Smith is wary of the threat offered by England, he insists Australia have nothing to fear from any side.

Kohli has made his intentions clear right from the beginning.

England and Bangladesh are drawn with Australia and New Zealand in Group A of the tournament.Meanwhile, defending champs India, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are placed in Group B.

It remains to be seen whether Stokes will be fully fit for bowling duty on Thursday, as he continues to battle a knee injury.

Asked which of Bangladesh’s first opponents worry him most, Mashrafe said: “All 11 – England are a very good side”.

Final: England vs India in a repeat of the 2013 final.

Morgan can lead by example, having blasted a brutal 107 from only 92 balls in a resounding 72-run victory in the first game of the series with the Proteas at Headingley on Wednesday. The breakthrough didn’t have much impact as Karthik followed up that century partnership with an 85-run stand with Kedar Jadhav in the middle overs. As a batsman, your shot selection changes, you also must keep an eye on your foot movement and you have to leave the deliveries going outside the off-stump.

“Dhoni has been playing as per the team s needs”.

India brings back a squad nearly identical to the 2013 trophy winners, with Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Ravi Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Dinesh Karthik all making return appearances.

“But today, I felt there’s an opportunity for me to trust myself and showcase my skills and so I enjoyed myself a little more”, he added.

“With the kind of form our frontline pacers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav – are in at the moment, I am sure India can do really well in the Champions Trophy”.

South Africa starts its Champions Trophy campaign against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Saturday, as it chases its first title since the tournament’s inaugural year in 1998, in what was then called the ICC Knockout Trophy.

The mood in the Indian camp is a lot different now when it comes to big tournaments. “We know one thing that we need to improve a hell of a lot is to be consistent in global cricket and beat good teams like India, England or Pakistan”. Plus, we have two world-class spinners who can take wicket in any condition.

“I don’t regret not being part of the team”.