[caption id="attachment_47784" align="aligncenter" width="580"]unnamed (14) India to face arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final on Sunday. Image Source: XtraTime[/caption] Internet Desk: High on confidence India to face arch-rivals Pakistan in a mouth watering clash in the grand finale of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Oval on Sunday. Due to the tense political relations between two nations the two sides only face each other in the global events right now. The defending champions India had already beaten Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament. And skipper Virat Kohli has already said his team will take the final match against arch-rivals as just like another match. It will be a battle of nerves too as whoever will hold their nerves till the end they will have an upper hand in the encounter. Javded Miandad’s last ball six against Chetan Sharma haunted a generation of Indian cricket maniacs but later legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar returned the favour with interest to Pakistan with his unforgettable knock at the Centurion. The supporters of both the teams, wherever they live, they always hate to see the Men in Blue or Men in Green lose against each other. For the 22 players in question, it's just a game of cricket. But for millions following them, it's way beyond that and is fuelled more by comments from former stars like Virender Sehwag or Rashid Latif. There could be unabashed love and unwarranted criticism in equal measures depending on which side one ends up. Even skipper Virat Kohli would tell one and all that they are "not here to make statements". On pure cricketing logic, Pakistan are no match for Virat Kohli's men, who have some of the best exponents of limited overs cricket. But just like in life, at times sporting realities defy logic which is exactly the reason why Sarfraz Ahmed's team can't be ruled out on a big day. A lopsided opening round contest, which India won by 124 runs made many feel that Indo-Pak contests are fast losing their sheen due to lack of quality in Pakistani ranks. An Azhar Ali is no match for Rohit Sharma in ODIs and Ahmed Shahzad doesn't have the consistency that Shikhar Dhawan has shown. Babar Azam is a new kid on the block while Virat Kohli, with 8000 plus ODI runs, is destined for greatness. But Pakistan cricket swings like a pendulum, hovering between brilliant and ordinary, making a mockery of any kind of definitive analysis. And the pace attack of Mohammed Amir, tournament's leading wicket-taker Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan and Rumman Raees have the ability to rewrite history. And this despite a dismal 2-13 record against India in various ICC tournaments (World Cup, Champions Trophy and World T20), which makes the 'Men In Blue' firm favourites. India's batting line-up, as expected, has fired big time in this Champions Trophy with Shikhar Dhawan (317 runs) and Rohit Sharma (304 runs) topping the run charts. Skipper Kohli, with 253 runs, makes it three Indians in top-5. Kohli is confident that his middle-order comprising Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya, that has gone untested so far, will come good if 'Law of Averages' catches up with them. "I am sure when Kedar and Hardik will put their hand up when situation arises. I don't think middle order not being tested is something to worry about," the skipper, who himself has been in sublime form had said earlier. With two quality pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, both of whom have maintained less than five runs per over economy rate on flat decks, India have their bases covered. Ravindra Jadeja's all-round prowess and the balance that Hardik and Kedar bring with their multiple skills, make it a complete side. Defending the Champions Trophy will also be important as the on-field supremacy could also help India regain some lost ground off the field when the ICC Annual Conference starts a day after the final. Squads India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dinesh Karthik, Mohammed Shami, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav. Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Shahzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Mohammed Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Hasan Ali, Mohammed Amir, Rumman Raees, Junaid Khan, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail.

Champions Trophy: The Oval is ready to host Indo-Pak final, cricket's ultimate rivalry