"There will be a few changes" - Dinesh Karthik claims India will be 'different beast' in Champions Trophy 2025
Published - 11 Aug 2024, 02:16 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:17 AM
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik opened up about the Men in Blue's preparation for upcoming events like the Champions Trophy 2025 and ODI World Cup 2027. Dinesh Karthik said that there will be a lot of changes to the team for the Champions Trophy, set to be played in February-March.
The Men in Blue suffered a 0-2 loss against Sri Lanka in the recently concluded ODI series. The Indian team failed to chase down a 231-run target during the series opener, resulting in a tie. They went on to lose the next two matches by 32 runs and 110 runs, respectively, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
The Indian cricket team lost 27 wickets to spin in the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka. Rohit Sharma was the top scorer during the series. The Indian skipper scored 157 runs at an average of 52.33 and a strike rate of 141.44, including two half-centuries. Other batters failed to make an impact in the series.
India Is Getting To That Place - Dinesh Karthik
On Cricbuzz's "Hey CB with DK," Dinesh Karthik said that the Indian team will focus on Test matches at the moment, with their next series against England in February 2025.
Karthik mentioned that the Indian team will undergo changes before their next ODI series. He is confident that India will evolve into a formidable team for big events.
"Hello, DK. What do the youngsters need to do so that the team is ready for Champions Trophy and next ODI World Cup?" a fan asked.
"Well, let's start with Champions Trophy. For a start, there's a lot of Test matches from here on. So we will see plenty of changes by the time the next series comes around, which is against England next year. So there is time for that," Dinesh Karthik said.
"I'm very confident. We'll see a slightly different unit than just what played in Sri Lanka. There will be a few changes. But I can tell you, India is getting to that place where, when they come for the big events, they're a different beast altogether. There are other teams that will be like, wow, this Indian team, we know the skill and talent," he added.
The Indian team will take on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series at home next month. First Test of the series will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, starting on September 13. Meanwhile, the second and final Test is scheduled to be held at Green Park in Kanpur from September 27 to October 1.
Team India will host New Zealand for a three-match Test series in October and November. ALso, the Men in Blue will then travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). They will also play the T20I series against Bangladesh, South Africa, and England before their next ODI series from February 6 to 12.
