India up for final test
Team India will be hopeful of their bowlers doing a good job in the final—AFP
India may be entering the Champions Trophy final on the back of the only unbeaten run in the tournament but captain M.S. Dhoni insisted he was taking nothing for granted ahead of the world champions’ clash with hosts England at Edgbaston on Sunday.
India thrashed Asian rivals Sri Lanka, the team they beat to win the 2011 World Cup final on home soil in Mumbai, by eight wickets in Cardiff on Thursday.
England, bidding for a first major one-day international title, looked in fine form in defeating South Africa by seven wickets at The Oval in Wednesday’s first semi-final.
“I think they are a very good side, like each and every side when it comes to the Champions Trophy, which means all of them are strong enough to beat anyone on that particular day and win the trophy,” Dhoni said.
“England are a very good side. We have played quite often in the last couple of years so we know the same amount about them and they know the same about us,” added Dhoni, whose side have eight of their last 10 one-dayers against England, albeit all those matches were in India.
But Sharma, asked if an England top order including captain Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, known collectively for solid rather than spectacular run-making, was the most dangerous India had faced in this competition, replied: “I don’t think so.
“If you are bowling in a good area no batsmen will enjoy playing you, that is what we have been doing in the last five games and we will do the same thing in the final.”
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