ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final: Match Preview

It is India versus Pakistan yet again, but this time, it is not a group stage match, it is the grand final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017! It is going be a clash of gigantic proportions. 

On one side is Pakistan, who have won three matches consecutively, that too against quality teams and have made the finals, and on the other, are the defending champions - Team India, who have been in great form, and have made the finals with ease, by defeating Bangladesh in the Semi Finals by 9 wickets. 

Fakhar Zaman will be the danger man from Pakistan, who has showed great character by hitting two half centuries in two games that he played against England and Sri Lanka. He has given quick starts to his team in the power-play overs and supported Azhar Ali to set the foundation for the innings, India will be looking forward to get him out early or else he may prove to be mortal. Azhar Ali has looked good on the other end as well, playing with calm and composure and taking calculated risks when his team needs to accelerate. Babar Azam has not had performed up to the expectations, but we all know about his talent and his form in the past year. The experience of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoib Malik in the lower middle order will help Pakistan to rebuild their innings if they lose early wickets. Sarfaraz Khan, the captain will look to explode in the end and push his team to a big total. 

The Pakistan pace bowling attack will be lead by Hasan-Ali, who is the highest wicket taker in the tournament so far, supported by Junaid Khan, Rumaan Raees and Shadab Khan. The spin department will be taken care of by Imad Wasim and part time off break bowler - Professor Hafeez. 

India looks very stable with their openers - Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in sublime form, who have proven to be the X Factor for India in this tournament. Both of them have scored a century against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively and will be looking forward to this big game. The skipper - Virat 'Run Machine' Kohli, recently was announced as the World's Number one batsman in the 50 over format of the game, due to his innings of 81*, 0, 76* and 96* in the four matches which he has played, He has averaged 256 in the Champions Trophy 2017. Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni provide a lot of experience to the team in the middle order. Both of them have not got many chances to bat, but whenever they have got a chance, they have not disappointed. Kedar Jadhav has not done a lot with the bat, but has played an important role as a part time off spinner in the team, who would come and bowl a few overs when Hardik Pandya would give runs, and he also took 2 big wickets, that too of set batsmen - Tamim and Mushfiqur in the Semi Final match against Bangladesh. The Spin Twins - Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, will bowl in the middle overs and try and get wickets at regular intervals, to keep Pakistan under pressure. Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the two fast bowlers playing for India, who would look to bowl a good line and length in the power-play and will not allow the opposition to steal runs.

Prediction:

India is looking as the favorites on paper, but Pakistan has always been an 'unpredictable' team, they have defeated the World's Number 1 Team - South Africa, and later England in the Semi Finals, so they have momentum with them at the moment, yet, I feel that India shall defend the title. 

Looking forward for an exciting final.

Mauka-Mauka again!

Cheers,

Sparsh