ICC Champions Trophy 2013 Final Today: India Vs England Final Match Preview

Birmingham: Champions Trophy final match is going to be played today between India and England. India reached the final without losing a single league match and is looking confident. Host England team wants to win the last Champions trophy match. England never won the world cup or champion trophy till now. India was runner up one time and in 2002, the final match between India and Sri Lanka was cancelled due to rain and both the teams were declared winners.

India is in great form in batting department. Openers Sikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are giving good start to the team in every match. Bhubaneswar, Ishant and Ravindra Jadeja are performing well. Jadeja is doing wonders as an all rounder. England top order batsmen are also in good form. England’s main strength is its pace bowling. James Anderson, Stuart Brad and Stephen Finn are dangerous bowlers. According to weather reports, rain is expected on Sunday. The pitch at Birmingham may first favour seamers.

India and England played three knockout matches till today. India won the 1983 world cup semi final and 2002 triangular series final. England won the 1987 world cup semi final. England reached the final of ICC one day tourney but did not win the title even once. India played 60 final matches in one day format. It won the title 23 times and there was no result in 5 matches. India and England played final match only once in 2002 July 13 at Lords which was won by India.

This is the first final match that India is playing after 2011 world cup. England is playing the first final match after 2007 tri-angular tourney. Present Champions trophy 2013 match is a fight between Indian top order batsmen and England’s bowlers. England is playing on their home ground and they have complete awareness of the weather conditions here. Cook is playing well as an opener and he can change the result of the match. Trott is playing huge innings.

Toss is going to play an important role. The pitch is being used for the first time. Presently the pitch is kept covered. If the match is cancelled because of rain, both the teams will be declared winners.

India team: Sikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Kartik, Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra jadeja, Ashwin, Bhubaneswar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

England team: Cook, Bell, Trott, Morgan, Bopara, Butler, Treadwell, Brad, Anderson and Finn