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Former India head coach Lalchand Rajput believes that Rohit Sharma-led side are ruthless and they should win the Champions Trophy convincingly. Team India have already won their first two group-stage matches and already qualified for the semifinals, they will now face New Zealand for their third league match on March 2 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
Lalchand Rajput who is currently the head coach of the UAE cricket team witnessed Virat Kohli's 51st ODI century in the six-wicket win over Pakistan and now he expects skipper Rohit Sharma to smash his way to a big hundred.
"This Indian team looks ruthless. They try to dominate and win every game. They don't want to give the opponents a chance to come back into the game. That is the attitude. And the way they are playing, I think they should win the Champions Trophy convincingly," Rajput told PTI on Tuesday.
"So Virat got a 100. All boxes are ticked. Now it's only up to Rohit to get a big 100," Rajput quipped, adding that the "Indian team have a clear instinct that that will just finish their opponents."
"We have always seen that India play better when the platform is big."
Despite India's qualification for the semifinal, the veteran coach advised India to play cautiously against New Zealand in their third league match.
"See, in cricket, you cannot take it lightly. Every game is important, because if you take one or few overs lightly, that can change the game as well. So we have got to be at our best every time. We don't want to relax at any moment," he remarked.
"Both the games India has won comfortably. But in cricket, we can't say anything, we have to take one game at a time. We don't have to take New Zealand lightly. New Zealand is a better team (than Pakistan and Bangladesh), they have also won both the games and their morale is also high," he pointed out.
Lalchand Rajput also lavished praise Kohli for his birilliant performance against Pakistan. The former India captain smashed his 82nd international century during the team's second league match.
"I think Virat played a fantastic innings, you know, and he showed his class. We always think of King Kohli, I think he proved again. Big match, big match temperament. Big match player."
With the team in such great form, he is not in favour of ringing in any changes for the upcoming match, which is only of academic interest with both sides already in the semi-finals.
"I don't think they will try anything (new) because when the team is doing well, you go with the same momentum.
"Unless there is some injury, or somebody wants to be rested, but I don't think there will be any change. It's up to the management because there are few days in between. But I would always say that you always continue with the winning team," Rajput said.
Fielding is the only area where this Indian team can do even better, the former Afghanistan and Zimbabwe coach said.
"Yes, fielding, we can always do better. Because at the crucial stage, we cannot drop catches. So, fielding is one aspect where we can always do better.
"Last game, I was there. I will definitely come for the next game as well. New Zealand and semifinals, and hopefully, the finals as well," he signed off.
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