Wed Feb 26 14:00:00 UTC 2025: ## India Favored to Win Champions Trophy, Says Former Coach

**Dubai, UAE –** Lalchand Rajput, former Indian cricketer and current UAE head coach, believes India is poised for a convincing Champions Trophy victory. Following India’s strong wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh, Rajput, who managed India’s triumphant 2007 T20 World Cup team, expressed confidence in the current squad’s ability to dominate. He highlighted the team’s ruthless approach, stating they aim to win every game decisively and leave no room for opponents to recover.

Rajput specifically praised Virat Kohli’s century against Pakistan, calling it a display of “King Kohli’s” big-match temperament. He also anticipates a strong performance from captain Rohit Sharma. However, he cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the importance of consistent effort and avoiding any letdown against New Zealand in their final group stage match. He noted that while India has secured comfortable wins, New Zealand poses a significant challenge as a strong team with high morale.

Rajput doesn’t foresee any major changes to the winning team for the upcoming game against New Zealand, considering the match’s largely academic importance given both teams’ secured semi-final berths. He believes maintaining momentum is crucial unless injuries or rest necessitate changes. The only area for improvement, according to Rajput, is fielding, particularly avoiding crucial dropped catches. He plans to attend the New Zealand match and hopes to see India progress to the final.

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