May 25, 2017: One of India's legendary spinners, former cricketer Erapalli Prasanna has picked India and Australia as favorites to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, noting that both these teams look nicely balanced.
So, it’s is highly unlikely that any of these two teams would fail to enter the finals of CT 2017. It may be noted that India in entering the tournament as the defending champions.
SportStar Live quoted Prasanna as saying that the strong bowling lineups of India and Australia sets the two sides apart other teams participating in ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Prasanna says he would have loved to have left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav in the team as well, but guessed an extra seamer has perhaps been picked instead to capitalize on English conditions.
The legendary cricketer says India and Australia -- the “two most well-balanced teams” -- should make the final, adding that team India has a good chance of making it, thanks to its strong lineup consisting of six specialist bowlers.
Nevertheless, Prasanna says the 20 overs bowled by spinners will be crucial as well in keeping a check on runs and getting batsmen out in the middle of the 50 over match.
He has also expressed his elation over the fact that as many as nine players in the team had already played in the 2013 Champions Trophy winning side.