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Cricket PlayersIndia not favourites to win ICC Champions Trophy: SA coach Russell Domingo
India thrashed South Africa by eight wickets in a virtual ICC Champions Trophy quarterfinal at The Oval on Sunday to qualify for the semifinals.
India’s eight-wicket victory against South Africa in an ICC Champions Trophy match at The Oval is not convincing enough to back them as favourites for the title, said South Africa coach Russell Domingo.
India play Bangladesh in a semifinal match in Birmingham on June 15. Even though skipper Virat Kohli feels the big win against South Africa will give India the motivation to run the distance, Domingo is not sure India can retain the title they won in 2013 in UK.
“India are not the favourites. Having seen the way the matches are panning out, there are no favourites,” said Domingo.
South Africa’s campaign in this ICC Champions Trophy has hardly been smooth and Domingo said the horror show against India – South Africa lost eight wickets for 51 runs – was a shocker.
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Unhappy camp?
South Africa came into the Champions Trophy as the world No 1 ODI side but the loss against Pakistan after a convincing 96-run win to start with against Sri Lanka upset Proteas’ plans.
South Africa are at a loss to explain the massive setback against India.
Domingo harped on South Africa’s good run in the last 18 months but what transpired at the Oval on Sunday was unfathomable.
While there are murmurs of an unhappy dressing room, Domingo puts it down to just poor cricket.
“It’s probably the worst game of cricket that we’ve played in the last year. That is a disappointing fact,” said Domingo.
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But why these repeated failures at the big stage?
“At the end of the day, we have to take responsibility. We have to take it on the chin. There’s no magic wand, or medicine you can give to players to perform in these big games.
“You’ve just got to take responsibility and make the play on the day and we haven’t done that of late in this tournament.”
Defeats hurt, but The Oval debacle for the world No 1 team has been something more.
