After winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 last month, Team India will now have its eyes set on another ICC trophy, the much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will be played in February-March next year.
It will be the first edition of the Champions Trophy since 2017. In the last edition, India suffered a humiliating defeat against Pakistan in the final and will be looking to make amends next year. The Men in Blue will be one of the strongest contenders for the title and will look to go all the way in their quest for their first Champions Trophy title since 2013.
While India will be one of the favourites for next year’s tournament, many believe that not playing enough ODIs before the competition could hurt their chances. India will play just six ODIs before the Champions Trophy.
The Rohit Sharma-led side will play three of those six matches next month. After that, they will play just three more ODIs at home next year against England before taking part in the Champions Trophy.
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik also believes that India would have liked to play more ODIs. However, he also said that the team is a well-oiled unit and backed their performance in the tournament.
“A little bit, yes. Ideally, they should play more. But India is a very well-oiled unit and the confidence after winning the T20 World Cup is going to be very high,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz while answering a fan’s question.
It will be very difficult to stop India from now on: Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik also said that it would be difficult for other teams to stop India in multi-national events after their T20 World Cup victory. The 2024 T20 World Cup victory ended India’s 11-year wait for an ICC trophy and many believe it could kick-start a dominant run for the Men in Blue in ICC competitions.
“I can tell you one thing: it will be very difficult to stop India in multi-national tournaments from now on. This World Cup will be the beginning of something very, very special in Indian cricket,” said Dinesh Karthik.
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