Michael Clarke backs India to win against South Africa

The Champions Trophy 2017 has been as open as it could it get. We are almost at the end of group stages and the fate of the semifinalists apart from England have yet to be known. The fate of Australia will depend on the outcome of their match against England. No one has qualified as of now in Group B.

With doors thrown this open, it has all the ingredients of some classics to determine the final three spots in the semifinals. And one such match will be held on June 11 at the Oval between South Africa and defending champions India.

The two teams so far

India and South Africa have been like two sides of a coin, both treading through different path albeit winning and losing to different opponents. India won their first match comfortably against Pakistan but lost to Sri Lanka with nearly two overs to spare after posting a dominant 321.South Africa too won their match against Sri Lanka but

South Africa too won their match against Sri Lanka but were once again on the receiving end of ambiguous Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method falling short to Pakistan by 19 runs. Both the teams boast of world-class players but it remains to be seen whether they will answer the call on Sunday.

The South African skipper AB de Villiers is in doubt for the clash on Sunday suffering from a hamstring injury which he got in the last match against Pakistan on Wednesday. He will be subject to a fitness test on Sunday morning, according to which his status for the match will be taken.

India however, will have worries in their bowling department considering they leaked over 300 runs against a young and inexperienced batting line up. Maybe the addition of Ashwin can be a bit of inspired change.

Michael Clarke stirs up the debate

A Twitter user asked the former Australian skipper Michael Clarke about who will win the match. Clarke replied with an Indian flag which suggests he backs the defending Champions to emerge victorious.

The overcast conditions which have been prevailing throughout will also play a factor in it. The business end of the tournament is upon us and two teams will be beckoned by their fans to the hilt. It will be a mouth-watering clash that would have the interest of the whole cricketing fraternity