EXCLUSIVE | ‘India are all the time there close to the tip,’ says Tim Southee on Champions Trophy possibilities

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (BCCI Photograph)

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 towards Bangladesh, adopted by a high-stakes conflict with Pakistan on February 23, earlier than dealing with New Zealand on March 2.
Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee, who lately introduced his retirement from worldwide cricket, known as India as sturdy contenders and wouldn’t thoughts seeing them face the BlackCaps within the last.

“It would be good. India are a robust aspect in relation to world occasions and are all the time there close to the tip. So yeah, I am certain they’re going to be a harmful aspect all through, and hopefully, New Zealand will probably be there as effectively. I hope New Zealand makes it to the ultimate,” Southee advised TimesofIndia.com in an interview.
Since its inception in 1998, India have received the Champions Trophy twice.

The primary title got here in 2002 when, beneath Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy, India and Sri Lanka had 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 last.
India got here shut once more in 2017, reaching the ultimate however falling quick towards arch-rivals Pakistan.
In the meantime, New Zealand, a workforce 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 last.

The final high-stakes ICC conflict between India and New Zealand occurred within the World Take a look at Championship last, the place the Kiwis outclassed India by eight wickets to elevate the trophy.
“It is a fantastic event, with the highest eight sides competing for the trophy. It is a quick, sharp event, and it all the time has been. I’ve all the time loved those I’ve performed in. So, hopefully, New Zealand can do effectively in that and, I assume, add to our silverware,” Southee stated.
“We have now a fantastic group of gamers coming by—gamers who’ve performed a variety of cricket collectively. I believe the power to play as a workforce in world occasions, in addition to in different video games, is essential. So I believe, yeah, it is concerning the type of play we have developed and having a bunch of gamers who’ve spent a variety of time enjoying collectively,” he stated.