India look to fine-tune Champions Trophy prep in 1ST home ODI since World Cup

India’s transition between the ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy has always hinged on nine matches. The problem is not that there are too few matches, because that is how modern cricket is played. Rather, the problem is that only a third of those matches remain.

Incidentally, when India takes the field during the Champions Trophy 2023 edition in Nagpur, it will be their first home ODI since the World Cup, which happened to be exactly 14 months ago. As far as breaks go, that’s rather lengthy, particularly for a nation that loves to play and market the format. But these days, and this lack of development fuel for Champions Trophy in particular, and in home conditions in general where there is the most room for adjustment, is incredibly beneficial to the three-match series against England. This series is even nuanced enough to stand on its own in the busy cricket schedule.

The timetable does have some sympathy for India, considering they begin in Vidarbha rather than to the west in Motera where they famously suffered a loss against Australia in front of a record setting audience with the World Cup trophy at stake. Not that it will prevent people from queuing outside the stadium doors in Nagpur. If anything, that defeat on November 19 seems to have strengthened the desire Indians have to seek an ODI trophy, the enthusiasm was certainly visible on Marine Drive when Rohit Sharma’s team returned with the T20 World Cup only seven months after the heartache in the 50-over format.

India’s attempt to clinch the title of champions in the upcoming Champions Trophy seems most likely and that is why, in this ODI series which serves as the warm-up to the ICC tournament, they seem intent on capturing this title just like recently did in yet another T20I which has proven one thing: there is a new generation and they are waiting in the wings.

When: Thursday, February 06, 2025 at 1:30 PM IST

Where: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

What to expect: The average first-innings score of the region is pegged at 288, however, it has been 6 years since the region has hosted ODI matches – so that number is meaningless. During that period, the level of big-hitting has changed drastically.

India has won the last three matches that they played at this venue, and they won two of them while chasing. Interestingly, in the past five matches here, captains opted to bat first in three of them, but they go back to the 2011 World Cup and that world is completely different in terms of tactics. If you interested for cricket update then visit 1xbetfair

Nagpur can get scorching hot at day-time, temperatures can go beyond 45 degrees Celsius, but this isn’t one of those months. Expectations are set around 32 degrees when the teams line up for the anthems, while the minimum temperatures tend to settle around 18 degrees, so the dew will most likely come into place and make an impact. Read More Click Here