India begin ICC Trophy battle with match against Kenya

The defending champions start with a match against Kenya on Saturday. Their only other league match will be against Pakistan on Sept 19.

India begin their defence of the Champions Trophy cricket title with an easy match against minnows Kenya at the Rose Bowl stadium on Saturday.

India's only other match in the league phase will be against Pakistan, the other team in Pool C. It will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham on September 19.

India, who shared the 2002 edition with hosts Sri Lanka, are without maestro Sachin Tendulkar. But still the team won the last match that it played - a morale boosting 23-win over England in the third NatWest Challenge match on Sunday.

Barring a miracle, India should easily romp home against Kenya at a venue that is not very well known around the world.

Indian batsmen have been out of touch, and it was the main reason why the team failed to enter the final of the three-nation Videocon Series at Amsterdam recently.