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Champions Trophy: India face a daunting task
 London, Sept 9: Grappling with an inexplicable lack of form, India face a daunting task to reverse their sliding fortunes in the absence of star performer Sachin Tendulkar in the high-profile ICC Champions Trophy where Australia start as overwhelming favourite. Tendulkar will be missing a major tournament for the first time since making his debut in 1989 and his absence has come as a huge blow for a beleaguered India, desperate to make a mark in the 12-team championship beginning here tomorrow with the hosts taking on Zimbabwe at
Edgbaston.
Joint holders India will open their campaign in the tournament, billed as the 'Mini World Cup', with a match against Kenya on Saturday in Pool 'C' before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan on September 19. While India's performance graph has taken a downward plunge in recent times, the spotlight will be on world champions Australia who would be looking to add the one missing title to their cupboard. Tomorrow's other fixture will see New Zealand take on newcomers USA at The Oval.
 Australia were upset by India in the first round in the first two editions of the tournament in Dhaka and Nairobi while they lost to hosts Sri Lanka in 2002. But this time, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is determined to win the prestigious title. "We are pretty disappointed with the way we played in the Champions Trophy as this is the second biggest one-day tournament," Ponting said. Two of Australia's main rivals -- India and Sri Lanka -- who were declared joint winners in 2002 after rains washed out the final, will be without their key players Tendulkar and Muttiah
Muralitharan.
 While
Tendulkar, world's highest run getter in ODIs, is out with an elbow injury, Muralitharan, who has the most number of Test wickets at 532, will miss the action as he is recovering from a shoulder injury. Sourav Ganguly's side would now be looking for inspiration from Rahul Dravid, voted as the world's best player by ICC, and pace bowler Irfan Pathan, winner of the emerging talent award. The team has done precious little to boost their confidence after their historic triumph in Pakistan in March-April suffering a string of defeats in the Asia Cup, the tri-series in
Holland and the NatWest
Challenge.
The four-match losing streak finally came to a halt at the Lord's when they beat
England by 23 runs but only to lose the series 1-2. (Agencies)
Published: Thursday, September 09, 2004
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