Sanga's Champions Trophy predictions

Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara doesn't expect his home country to reach the knockout stages of the Champions Trophy and believes India have a better squad than that which won the tournament in 2013.

Ahead of Thursday's opener between England and Bangladesh at The Oval, Sangakkara predicted India, England, Australia and South Africa to occupy the four semi-final positions.

Defending champions India thrashed Bangladesh by 240 runs on Tuesday night and the 2011 World Cup winners again look well placed to be a serious force under Virat Kohli.

"(India) won in 2013 and it has a team capable of winning this year, too," Sangakkara wrote for the ICC website.

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"In fact, the team is arguably stronger, better balanced with real firepower in its fast bowling.

"Its spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are exceptional in ODI cricket and I am sure Virat Kohli is going to be desperate to bounce back after a disappointing IPL.

"The only slight concern I have for India is that its selection was perhaps a little conservative, but it is still very strong."

Sangakkara's praise for India's pace attack is unsurprising; Kohli has an embarrassment of riches to choose from in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav, with allrounder Hardik Pandya a handful in his own right.

That group, combined with spinners Jadeja and Ashwin, form a pleasant puzzle for the country's selectors, while Kohli will be capably supported by Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni in an experienced batting group.

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Meanwhile, hosts England head into the tournament as warm favourites to claim their first piece of silverware at an ICC 50-over event, and Sangakkara has been suitably impressed with their transformation since a disappointing 2015 World Cup.

"(England's) progress in the past two years has been a revelation," the 404-ODI veteran wrote.

"It used to trail behind other teams in terms of its strategy and approach, but now it is one of the most progressive teams.

"It used to be one of the team’s that traditionally struggle in big tournaments, but under this set-up – shrewdly overseen by coaches Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace with Andrew Strauss a strong Director of Cricket – its past record is perhaps not relevant.

"England is playing an aggressive and exciting brand of cricket and it has some world-class players driving that.

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"Ben Stokes is an outstanding allrounder, and both he and Chris Woakes will have benefited from their time in the IPL.

"Joe Root and Jos Buttler will drive the batting."

Sangakkara, who won the Champions Trophy in 2002 when the title was split between Sri Lanka and India due to a washed-out final, is far from alone in having high expectations on the hosts: England themselves said they were deserving of the 'favourites' tag; ODI legend Mike Hussey tipped them to face Australia in the final; and West Indian great Brian Lara chose Eoin Morgan's side as his tournament winners.

Whether they can handle those expectations could ultimately be decisive in their fortunes.

England will face Australia in their third match of the tournament, on June 10, and Sangakkara expects the two-time winners (2006 and 2009) to again be in the mix at the back-end of the tournament.

"Australia is one of the strongest contenders," he wrote. "(They) have been playing some great ODI cricket of late and it is probably the best-balanced team in the competition.

"Its batsmen are also in-form and its bowling attack is potent."

The Sri Lankan said the dynamic batting duo of AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock would be pivotal in South Africa's hopes of reaching the semi-finals – which he expects them to do – however he did point out two factors that go against the Proteas: the absence through injury of pace great Dale Steyn, and their traditional failure to hit their straps at major tournaments.

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Of Sri Lanka, he believes low expectations could work in favour of a team in a developmental phase which he hopes can "punch above its weight". 

"The team remains young and inexperienced, and this lowers expectations," he explained.

"This I think will help the side, reducing the pressure and tension, which will allow it to go out there and express themselves.

"The return of Lasith Malinga for the first time in an ODI since 2015 is going to be a huge boost. He looked like he was getting better and better as the IPL progressed. His partnership with Nuwan Kulasekara, who is skillful and experienced in English conditions, will provide confidence.

"The batting unit has settled down a little in recent months and that has been good to see. With Angelo (Mathews) slotting back into the top order after injury, they definitely have the capability to win against anyone if they play an exciting brand of cricket."

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The Sri Lankans have posted totals of 318 and 356 batting first in their Champions Trophy warm-ups, but have gone on to lose both contests, against Australia and New Zealand respectively.

Malinga took 1-32 from eight overs against Australia and was rested against the Black Caps, though Kulasekara has been expensive with combined figures of 0-83 off 10.4 overs.

You can read Kumar Sangakkara's full ICC column here

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

Schedule

Warm-up matches

26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval

Tournament

1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)