New Delhi: Despite the absence of pace spreadhead Jasprit Bumrah, India are the favourites to win the 2025 Champions Trophy, believe former cricketers Shane Watson and Eoin Morgan. India have lost the services of ace pacer Bumrah due to injury for the marquee event which started with game between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand on Wednesday.
India, who are slated to play their matches in Dubai as part of the hybrid model for the event, begin their campaign against Bangladesh on Thursday. During the International Masters League Captain’s day event in Navi Mumbai, former English player Morgan said that the Rohit Sharma-led side has the necessary firepower and quality which make them out and out favourites to lift the Champions Trophy title.
India have the thirst to win titles
The former English player further said that India have showcased their class in the previous big ICC tournaments like the ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup. He said that India were fantastic all through the ODI World Cup till in the final, they got robbed by the Australian side while in the T20 World Cup an year later, they produced phenomenal performance to keep the South African side at bay in the finale. He further said that winning trophies and tasting victory brings confidence and because you have been there once, it makes you believe that you can do it again.
Meanwhile, former Australian vice-captain Shane Watson said that Hardik Pandya’s return to the ODI setup bolsters India’s chances of winning the title. ‘When it comes to the favourites, it has to be India. They have got bolstered with Hardik Pandya coming in as that fast bowling all-rounder,’ he said.
“Unfortunately, they don’t have Jasprit Bumrah, but it’s just about the identical squad to what they had in the last one-day World Cup where they dominated up until the final,” he added.
India begin their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai while face arch-rivals Pakistan in their next clash on February 23, Sunday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
