Cardiff : Indian team would take on South Africa in the Champions Trophy opener in Cardiff today. World champions India have not played an ODI outside the sub-continent in the last 15 months but the two big wins in their practice matches against Sri Lanka and Australia will give India the required confidence. India have a good record against South Africa in the Champions Trophy. India lead 2-0 in head-to-head having won in 2000 and in 2002.
Karthik has been in the form of his life. He has followed up his domestic form with two impressive knocks that makes him an automatic choice in the 11 against South Africa. With Dhoni making it clear that he would want batsmen to play in their normal positions and not tinker with the order, Rohit Sharma finding a place seems improbable though the opening combination of M Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan has looked a bit shaky in the two warm-up matches.
The bowling appears more or settled with Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma being the first choice pacemen. R Ashwin and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will complete the five bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja should be the two spinners.
South Africa are sweating over Dale Steyns fitness. They will have to depend a lot on Hashim Amla and JP Duminy and of course, their young and inspirational captain, AB De Villiers. They are struggling with injury worries to their key players. They have already lost Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis for entirely different reasons before the tournament.
Champions Trophy Schedule
June 6 India vs South Africa Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
June 7 Pakistan vs West Indies Kennington Oval, London
June 8 England vs Australia Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 9 New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Sophia Gardens,Cardiff
June 10 (D/N) Pakistan vs South Africa Edgbaston,Birmingham
June 11 India vs West Indies Kennington Oval, London
June 12 Australia vs New Zealand Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 13 (D/N) England vs Sri Lanka Kennington Oval, London
June 14 South Africa vs West Indies Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
June 15 India vs Pakistan Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 16 England vs New Zealand Sophia Gardens,Cardiff
June 17 (D/N) Australia vs Sri Lanka Kennington Oval, London
June 19 First semifinal Kennington Oval,London
June 20 Second semifinal Sophia Gardens,Cardiff
June 23 Final Edgbaston,Birmingham
Matches start at 3.00 pm IST. D/N matches start at 5.30 pm IST.
Group A
England
Australia
New Zealand
Sri Lanka
Group B
India
South Africa
Pakistan
West Indies
