As the ICC Champions Trophy kicks off, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has shared his thoughts on India's prospects, the team's strengths, and the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan. Ganguly, renowned for his cricketing acumen, believes India is a "very powerful white-ball team" and a strong contender for the title. Reflecting on India's dominance over Pakistan since 2000, Ganguly noted, "India has lost only one match to Pakistan in the last 25 years. They are favourites for the tournament." He added, Having seen the game yesterday in Dubai, it's not so easy. Bowlers, both spinners and pacers, will have a significant say. Batting will not be easy, but India will be very, very tough to beat. When asked about Rishabh Pant's exclusion from the first match, Ganguly remarked, India has such a strong batting side. Anyone can play, and both Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are excellent players. Ganguly also lauded Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, who claimed five wickets in the opening match. He said, Shami has impressive numbers in one-day cricket. While Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world, Shami is not far behind On Virat Kohli's recent struggles, Ganguly expressed confidence in the former captain's ability to bounce back. "Given the quality of player Virat, I am sure he will overcome this phase. He will score runs against leg spin as well," he stated. Recalling his own experiences against Pakistan, Ganguly said, I have played numerous India-Pakistan matches throughout my career. From the 2003 World Cup in South Africa to my highest Test score against them in 2004, these encounters have always been special. Ganguly firmly believes India holds the upper hand against Pakistan. India is a far superior team. Pakistan will need to play exceptionally well to challenge India Beyond cricket, Ganguly discussed his business ventures in West Bengal, particularly a steel plant project. He shared, We are building our third and largest steel plant. While it takes time to secure clearances, once operational, it will create significant employment opportunities, Ganguly picked New Zealand, India, Australia, and either South Africa or England as his top four teams for the Champions Trophy. He also highlighted the depth of talent in Indian cricket, citing the recent T20 series win over England. The way Abhishek Sharma batted was unbelievable. India has an abundance of talent, with players like Shubman Gill and Axar Patel excelling. It's a house of talent On India's combination for the tournament, Ganguly suggested, India has quality spinners, and Pakistan struggles against spin. I expect India to go with three spinners and three pacers. Finally, Ganguly downplayed a recent minor car accident he was involved in. It was a very small incident. Someone tapped my car from behind, but there were no injuries. I was surprised by the media coverage he said with a smile. Ganguly's insights underscore India's formidable position in the tournament and the depth of talent that makes the Men in Blue a treat to watch.Original Article