Russel Domingo says that India are not the favourites to win the Champions Trophy

India, South Africa, Australia and England were the four teams that many a pundit anticipated would reach the semi-final stage of the Champions Trophy. However, to the disappointment of the pundits, South Africa and Australia have failed to go through to the semi-final stage of the competition.

South Africa, having been placed in Group B failed to qualify to the semi-final stage after a loss at the hands of Pakistan and India, with their only victory coming against Sri Lanka. For Australia, things have been different with a solitary loss coming against England with the other two matches being washed out.

Not giving Team India the tags ‘Favourites’

However, to everyone’s surprise, South African coach Russel Domingo does not think that India is the favourites to win the tournament, despite them being the title holders. Domingo was quoted as saying in Hindustan Times, “India are not the favourites. Having seen the way the matches are panning out, there are no favourites.”

He further added that it was the worst performance he has seen from the Proteas team in the past one year that he has been at the helm of affairs. The game against India was by far one of the worst performance in the teams’ Champions Trophy campaign, despite the loss at the hands of another Asian side Pakistan.

“At the end of the day, we have to take responsibility. We have to take it on the chin. There’s no magic wand, or medicine you can give to players to perform in these big games.You’ve just got to take responsibility and make the play on the day and we haven’t done that of late in this tournament,” he concluded.

Soon after the Champions Trophy, the Proteas are marked to play a 3-match T20 series against England from the 21st of June, where they will have to perform better leaving the disappointment of the Champions Trophy.