Champions Trophy 2017. Squads and players to watch-out for

Champions’ Trophy is regarded as the best tournaments after the world cup. Top 8 teams qualify for this tournament according to their ICC rankings. Current rankings and teams which qualified for the 2017 tournament.

Squad for ICC Champions Trophy:

South Africa: A team which is known for choking in the big stages and big tournaments. Having won champions trophy in the year 2008 they can be confident of winning it again.

Players to watch out for: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir.

AB de Villiers: U cannot just write-off big players just because of one bad tournament and a major domestic tournament like IPL. AB de Villiers has not been in his zone when it came to IPL 2017 but, big players raise up to the occasion on the big platforms and tournaments such as Champions trophy.

Hashim Amla: Fastest cricketer to reach 1000,2000,3000,4000,5000,6000 and 7000 runs in ODI cricket. He had a wonderful IPL tournament for Kings XI Punjab where he got loads of runs in his kitty. We expect him to come good in England as well.

Kagiso Rabada: Young, fast, aggressive and a bowlers head. He is one of the young fast players who is fascinating to watch. Even Steyn would be proud seeing him.

Imran Tahir: Major revelation for raising pure supergiants towards the giant strides to the finals of IPL.A Googly, which was never comfortable for the batsmen to handle in the whole tournament.

Squad: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers(c), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Farhaan Behardien, Morne Morkel.

Australia: A big fish in the cricketing fraternity. The team which is known for its trophies. Big tournaments, big occasions, and Australia can never be held back.

Players to watch out for: Steven Smith, David Warner, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

Steven Smith: Who would have ever thought, a non-text book batting stance could lead to batting stardom for Australia. He is called as Steven unstoppable Smith. A run machine.

David Warner: Came out of nowhere and busted into the scene of cricket and he has never let that success get into his head. On his day he can make bowlers getting a hiding from him.

Chris Lynn: A raw power, brutal force, and cool head a deadly combination. Makes hitting so easy. Coming into the tournament with a good IPL season.

Mitchell Starc: Deadliest fast bowler in the current era. Makes it so simple to look but he has mastered the art of death bowling and fast bowling.

Squad: Steven Smith(c), David Warner, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

India: Powerhouse in the cricketing world led by a captain who is aggressive, energetic, focused and leading from the front. India, known for its batting master classes but fast bowling in the recent context has paid rich dividends in the team’s perspective.

Players to watch out for: Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

Virat Kohli: There are no words that can explain his discipline and passion towards the game he loves. He is a leader and a warrior for team India. A batting maestro or Virat run a machine, Kohli.

MS Dhoni: There is something about Dhoni when it comes to big tournaments like this. You may call it luck or a genius brain but you can never write him off. One and only captain who has won all the major ICC tournaments.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: England wickets, English conditions a tailor-made for him. Swing is his forte and English conditions are his Mecca.

Umesh Yadav: A revelation to fast bowling in India. Altogether a different bowler over the 18 months. He can get wickets at a crucial time of the game.

Jasprit Bumrah: Fast bowling and death bowling was way below par in Indian cricket but thanks to this guy who is making it a strong component of India cricket team.

Squad: Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami

New Zealand: Cricket is a gentle men’s game and who else can prove it better than New Zealand. A team in a transition state. There are some quality players in the squad who can win a game on their day.

Players to watch out for: Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Martin Guptill and James Neesham.

Kane Williamson: He is regarded as one of the greats in the present generation with Joe Root, Virat Kohli, and Steven Smith. His composure and calmness on the field are impeccable. He can lead this team to greater heights.

Trent Boult: Best fast bowler amongst the New Zealanders. His inswinging deliveries are the threats and deadly. English conditions should help him for some swing.

Martin Guptill: On his day, he can be a superman and can hit the ball into the galaxies. Hard hitting Martin Guptill.

Squad: Kane Williamson(c), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Neil Broom, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Jeetan Patel, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.

England: Founders of this wonderful game. Off-late England has reformed and reconstructed their ODI team. Being slow starters to the entertainers. Reaching T20 world cup final with the young lads and fresh legs has made them favorites to win the trophy in their own backyard.

Players to watch out for: Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Mark Wood and Jos Butler.

Eoin Morgan: He is the one who has transformed the England limited-over side to the world beater. The fearless game, counter attacking these are the flavors which he bought into the player’s mind with young guns coming from the blokes.

Ben Stokes: A million dollar baby in the IPL. He had the best debut IPL season that he could have imagined. He is going to be one of the legends of England cricket with his skills.

Joe Root: English crowds favorite son. The backbone of the batting in the middle order. He has a great head on his shoulders. This aggressive English side with a combination of calmness in the form of Root is working wonders for them.

Mark Wood: This guy is special. I love the way he bowls. Fast, bouncy, knacky and a skiddy customer. Coming back from long injury he will be like gold dust.

Squad: Eoin Morgan(c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Bangladesh: Once this team was called the underdogs but now they are not, they are the world beaters. Youth exuberance, skill, and passion have brought them success. They are the most improved side from past 5-6 years.

Players to watch out for: Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman.

Tamim Iqbal: He has been the star performer for Bangladesh since they beat India in the world cup in West Indies. He hasn’t been consistent but on his day he can win matches on his own.

Musfiqur Rahim: Talented batsmen, street smart wicket keeper, and young blood. Bats well in the middle order, carries the innings together and a key member of this side.

Shakib Al Hasan: This man is the best all-rounders in the world. A legend in Bangladesh cricket team. He can bowl in tough conditions, can bat his heart out and an asset to the world cricket and for Bangladesh.

Mustafizur Rahman: This guy had the batsmen look silly in front of the television such was his variation. Smart bowler and calm head for a 20-year-old to bowl with such maturity and consistency. If Bangladesh has to progress, this guy has to ball his heart out.

Squad: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Sunzamul Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam

Sri Lanka: There is something about this team at the world stages like the big ICC tournaments. Semi-finalist in 2013 champions trophy, runners-up in 2011 world cup, runner-up in 2007 world cup. Major tournaments and Sri Lanka will be the challengers.

Players to watch out for: Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal.

Angelo Mathews: Experienced and seasoned cricketer for Sri-Lanka. He can bring his experience and take the team to higher standards and can make the team strong competitors for the trophy.

Dinesh Chandimal: He has been rated as the next best for Sri Lanka. He holds the key in batting for Sri Lanka if they have to progress.

Suranga Lakmal: Fast, skiddy and a long run up. Best site to see a fast bowler running hard and bending his back and generate something from the wicket and this guy does it more effective.

Squad: Angelo Mathews(c), Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Chamara Kapugedera, Asela Gunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Lakshman Sandakan, Seekkuge Prasanna

Pakistan: Pakistan is one of the most underrated teams in the world cricket. They have the best fast bowlers in the world. There let off has been their fielding and batting. If they can put up a show then they can beat anyone in the tournament.

Players to watch out for: Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir, Azhar Ali.

Babar Azam: He is the next best in Pakistan cricket. He has been rated highly in Pakistan. These are the tournaments were players like Babar Azam can showcase their talent.

Mohammad Amir: He is one of the best when it comes to fast bowling. Some of the spells which bowled to the best batsmen in the world were just amazing. Amazing control over the swing, line, and length is just brilliant.

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed(c), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail

India and England look the most balanced side in this year’s tournament. They have some of the best batting line up and stable bowling squad and their fielding standards are just sky high. Last time finalists are the firm favorites to win this tournament. Hope the best team wins and we shall get to see the best cricket played.