Champions Trophy 2017: Sachin Tendulkar has a special message for Team India

Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar has few words to share with the Men in blue as they build up for the Champions Trophy. India, being the defending champions have a tough task ahead of them to retain their title. They have been placed in a tough group this time around which includes South-Africa, Sri-Lanka and Pakistan. The championship is scheduled to begin on June 1 in England.

India will begin its campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 4 and this game as always is expected to be a cracker of a contest. Then they take on Sri Lanka on June 8 at The Oval followed by South Africa on June 11 at the same venue. Though the defending champions have never lost to Pakistan in World Cup or a World T20 game for that matter, they surely cannot afford to take their neighbours lightly in the Champions Trophy.

In September 2004 at the Edgbaston, Pakistan got the better of India by 3 wickets while five years down the line at Centurion, they got through again, by 54 runs.

Sachin’s message for the defending Champions:

Speaking with News Nation Tendulkar said, “I think we have a very strong team. There is a balance as well as a lot of talent in the team. Under Virat’s leadership, we should be able to achieve what the whole nation wants to. I want the team to give its best. There are high hopes and expectations. It is important to have such expectations. It is like a tonic, which means you are good enough and that is why there are expectations”.

However, when asked about his favourite’s for the tournament, he declined to pick a side and instead had an important message for all the contesting teams.

“I think only about that team which I am with. I have been associated with one team, Mumbai Indians, for last 10 years. The performance this year has been very good. There are a few young players who have performed at crucial points, such as Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Rana, Hardik and Krunal Pandya…All players will have to come together to perform if they have to win the championship. If a team does not play as a unit then you cannot win a championship.”

India has retained eight players from their side which went on to lift the title in 2013, which includes the skipper Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav.

Whereas, veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh makes a comeback in the Champions Trophy after a gap of 11 years.Virat Kohli will lead the Indian side for the first time in a major ICC event.