Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has made a big prediction about the Champions Trophy. This veteran has said that India and Australia will make it to the final and also that Team India will win the match and lift the trophy this time. The final of this mega ICC tournament, starting on February 19, is to be played on March 9. Clarke also said that Indian team captain Rohit Sharma will score a lot of runs in this tournament.

Captain Rohit Sharma, who led India to the ICC T20 World Cup title last year, will make India the Champions Trophy champions. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has made a bold prediction for the Champions Trophy starting this month. Clarke, a member of the Australian team that won the Champions Trophy by defeating the West Indies under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting in 2006, said that the teams of India and Australia will face each other in the final to be held on March 9.

Clarke believes that the final of the Champions Trophy will be like the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup but this time India will defeat Australia. "My fingers are crossed for Australia so I would say Australia will be one of them and I think they will play India in the final. (What the 2023 ODI World Cup will be like) That's what I'm hoping," Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.

He further said, "You know what, I think India will beat Australia in the final. Can't believe I said this. I think India will win the tournament. I'm going with them. I also think Rohit Sharma will be on top of the run-scorers this time. This tournament is going to be theirs."

Star players out of Champions Trophy

Australia is facing the brunt of injured players. Team captains Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis will not play in the tournament. Star bowlers Cummins, Hazlewood and Marsh are out of the eight-team tournament due to injury while Starc withdrew on February 12 due to personal reasons. Stoinis even announced his retirement from ODIs.

India's schedule

In the ICC Champions Trophy, India will start its campaign against Bangladesh on 20 February at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. On 23 February, it will face arch-rival Pakistan at the same venue. India's third match will be against New Zealand on 2 March in Dubai.