New Delhi, Feb 14: The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, set to take place from February 19 to March 9 across Pakistan and Dubai, will see India, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Pakistan competing in the same group.
Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee, who recently retired from international cricket, believes India are strong contenders for the title and expressed his hope for a New Zealand-India final. “It would be great to see that. India have always been a formidable force in world events and are often in contention until the end. They will be a dangerous side throughout, and hopefully, New Zealand will be there as well,” Southee told Times of India in an interview.
India, a two-time Champions Trophy winner, first claimed the title in 2002 under Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy, sharing the trophy with Sri Lanka after the final was washed out. Their second triumph came in 2013 when MS Dhoni led India to victory over England in the final. In 2017, India made it to the final again but were defeated by Pakistan.
New Zealand, known for their consistent performances in ICC tournaments, won their only Champions Trophy title in 2000, defeating India by four wickets in the final under Stephen Fleming’s leadership. The Kiwis also emerged victorious in their most recent ICC showdown against India, winning the World Test Championship final by eight wickets.
Southee highlighted the significance of the tournament, emphasizing the strength of the competing teams. “It’s a fantastic event featuring the top eight sides. It’s a short and intense tournament, which makes it even more exciting. I’ve always enjoyed playing in it, and I hope New Zealand can perform well and add another trophy to our collection,” he said.
He further praised the New Zealand squad, emphasizing their cohesion and experience. “We have a strong group of players who have played a lot of cricket together. The key to success in world events is maintaining our style of play and leveraging the experience within the team,” Southee added. (Agencies)
