EXCLUSIVE | ‘India are at all times there close to the top,’ says Tim Southee on Champions Trophy probabilities – The Occasions of India

NEW DELHI: India, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan are in the identical group for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to happen from February 19 to March 9, throughout Pakistan and Dubai. India will start their marketing campaign in Dubai on February 20 in opposition to Bangladesh, adopted by a high-stakes conflict with Pakistan on February 23, earlier than going through New Zealand on March 2.
Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee, who lately introduced his retirement from worldwide cricket, referred to as India as robust contenders and wouldn’t thoughts seeing them face the BlackCaps within the remaining.

“It would be good. India are a robust facet on the subject of world occasions and are at all times there close to the top. So yeah, I am certain they’re going to be a harmful facet all through, and hopefully, New Zealand shall be there as nicely. I hope New Zealand makes it to the ultimate,” Southee advised TimesofIndia.com in an interview.
Since its inception in 1998, India have gained the Champions Trophy twice.

The primary title got here in 2002 when, underneath Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy, India and Sri Lanka have been declared joint winners after the ultimate in Colombo was washed out.
The second title got here in 2013, with MS Dhoni main India to victory, beating hosts England within the remaining.
India got here shut once more in 2017, reaching the ultimate however falling brief in opposition to arch-rivals Pakistan.
In the meantime, New Zealand, a group identified for exceeding expectations in main tournaments, claimed their solely Champions Trophy title in 2000. Led by Stephen Fleming, they secured a memorable four-wicket victory over India within the remaining.

The final high-stakes ICC conflict between India and New Zealand passed off within the World Take a look at Championship remaining, the place the Kiwis outclassed India by eight wickets to raise the trophy.
“It is an awesome event, with the highest eight sides competing for the trophy. It is a brief, sharp event, and it at all times has been. I’ve at all times loved those I’ve performed in. So, hopefully, New Zealand can do nicely in that and, I assume, add to our silverware,” Southee mentioned.
“Now we have an awesome group of gamers coming by way of—gamers who’ve performed a whole lot of cricket collectively. I believe the power to play as a group in world occasions, in addition to in different video games, is essential. So I believe, yeah, it is in regards to the fashion of play we have developed and having a bunch of gamers who’ve spent a whole lot of time enjoying collectively,” he mentioned.