AFP: Cricket legend Kapil Dev is backing India to win a new Champions Trophy title next month, saying the team has the ability to go the distance in the 50-over tournament.

India, who beat hosts England in the 2013 final, have retained eight players from that successful campaign including skipper Virat Kohli. 

Senior players like former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who lifted the trophy at Edgbaston, and premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feature in the 15-man Indian squad to go to England and Wales.

India edged past England 2-1 during their one-day international series in January, with the players continuing their good showing in Tests and Twenty20 matches.

“The way they are playing, yes, definitely...I believe we have the team and the ability,” Kapil said of India’s chances of defending their title in the tournament starting June 1.

As long as India stay clear of injuries “I don’t see any reason why we can’t win the event,” Kapil said.

“I know the opposition is very very tough in England. The good part is that we won last time when we played there and that is an advantage,” Kapil told reporters at the unveiling of a wax work figure of himself in New Delhi.

The legendary all-rounder also billed India as favourites in their much-anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on June 4 in Birmingham, saying they “look much better on paper”.

But the 1983 World Cup-winning captain added that England will be the team to beat in the eight-team tournament with home conditions giving the Eoin Morgan-led side the edge.

England have undergone a major overhaul since their unceremonious exit in the group stages of the 2015 World Cup.

“You can’t rule out any team but England will be very very tough playing in England and their team is quite good. They know the conditions better than anybody else,” said Kapil. Kapil, 58, lauded India’s impact players like Ashwin and Dhoni.

“If you look at Ashwin, he is an allrounder. It’s not only a fast bowler who can hit hard who should be called an all-rounder,” said Kapil, the only cricketer to take over 400 wickets and 5000 plus runs in test cricket.

“You look at Jadeja, Dhoni, they are fabulous all-rounders. Any player who can do more than one job, two jobs, like Dhoni keeps wicket and bats, they become all-rounders.”

England deserve ‘favourites’ tag in Champions Trophy: Moeen

​Reuters: England’s formidable limited-overs squad fully deserve the ‘favourites’ tag going into next month’s Champions Trophy at home, all-rounder Moeen Ali has said.

England have undergone a major transformation in white-ball cricket since being unceremoniously dumped out of the 2015 World Cup during the group stage.

One-day captain Eoin Morgan has called the current squad the “most talented group” he has played with and England sense a golden opportunity to win their maiden global 50-overs title at the June 1-18 tournament.

“The team we have at the moment, we deserve that tag,” Moeen told the British media.

“Playing at home is going to make a massive difference and hopefully we can win the trophy.”

England lost to India in the final when they hosted the previous edition of the Champions Trophy in 2013 and also finished runner-up to West Indies in the World Twenty20 in India last year.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen hoped the team would be third time lucky.

“We have lost a couple of finals recently but over the last couple of years we have played very well in preparation for this trophy,” the 29-year-old said.

“Hopefully if we get to the final we can overcome the final step and win it. We have gained experience from the T20 World Cup so it will definitely help us.”

Morgan’s side have switched to an attacking brand of cricket since the World Cup exit two years ago and currently boast of a slew of hard-hitting batsmen who are capable of destroying any bowling attack.

“The mindset of the players has changed,” Moeen said, lauding the impact of Morgan. “He wants us to play without fear and to hit the lights out.”

The hosts are grouped alongside 50-over world champions Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh in the tournament which features the top eight sides.