New Delhi: As the cricket world gears up for the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match at the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday, former Indian captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has unequivocally backed India as the favorites not only for this clash but also to win the entire tournament.
Ganguly, known for his astute cricketing insights, emphasized that the current Indian team is the best in the world across all departments. He believes this strength will propel them to success in the Champions Trophy. “India are now the best team in the world, whether it’s batting or bowling; they are the number one side and should do well in the tournament,” Ganguly stated.
Despite Virat Kohli’s recent struggles, particularly against leg-spin, Ganguly remains confident in Kohli’s abilities. “Kohli is one of the best batsmen in the world. He has scored 81 international centuries and does not have to prove anything. He will solve his own problem,” Ganguly assured, dismissing concerns over Kohli’s form.
Ganguly also defended Rohit Sharma, suggesting that his performances should not be judged solely on his Test cricket record. “Rohit is one of the best batsmen in the world. India have a strong batting lineup, with batters till number 8, which is a positive point,” he highlighted.
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah from the tournament does not worry Ganguly, as he believes Mohammed Shami can effectively lead the bowling attack. “The wicket of Dubai is different, and teams aren’t expected to score huge totals on it. Shami is a fine fast bowler and being in rhythm will be key for him,” he explained.
Ganguly supported the team’s decision to prefer KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs, citing Rahul’s impressive batting average in the middle order. He also praised the current form of Shubman Gill, noting that India has been at its best in white-ball cricket.
On the team combination, Ganguly endorsed the strategy of having three spinners and two fast bowlers, which he believes is the right approach given the conditions in Dubai. “The team combination that Gautam Gambhir is going with is right,” he said.
Ganguly’s confidence in India’s performance is not just about individual players but also about the overall talent pool and the team’s balance. “India have enormous talent in white-ball cricket. Anybody who has played against India will say the same thing – they are the best in white-ball cricket,” he concluded.
