espnstar.com's Ayanjit Sen and Rajarshi Gupta, debate the prospects of the top three teams in the ICC Champions Trophy.

By Ayanjit Sen and Rajarshi Gupta

In the fourth edition of the Gurgaon Gunners, we look at the top three ODI teams in the world and talk about their chances and weaknesses in the ICC Champions Trophy.

India will find it tough without Sehwag and Zaheer

AS: Yes, undoubtedly, Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag will be missed in the Champions Trophy. But one needs to think beyond individuals and it is no longer the Indian team which, once talked and only talked about A,B, or C. This particular team has a great balance and players, who on any day, can be match winners. The return of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid will definitely augment the team's batting strength and at the same time, a good pace battery consisting of Ashish Nehra, R P Singh, Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar are in good form. Statistics are on their side and it just requires the application.

RG: India will not be the same without Sehwag and Zaheer. The team faced a torrid time in England during the ICC World Twenty20 after the opener had to miss out on all the action after a shoulder injury.

While Gambhir will come back into the side (after sitting our of the tri-series in Sri Lanka), MS Dhoni would miss his potent striker in South Africa during the ICC World Twenty20. Sehwag would have been ideal on the South African tracks, more so against the likes of Australia and Pakistan. He knows how to instil fear in the opposition and no one can do it as well as he could have.

The bowling looks weak and that was apparent in Sri Lanka. No Zaheer Khan means no experience. Ishant Sharma, RP Singh and Ashish Nehra are good but they needed a spearhead in the attack. You need a good pace attack in South African conditions. Remember, the wickets this time around, will be fresh and not as tired and worn out as they were during the second season of the Indian Premier League. So, though Harbhajan Singh has looked threatening of late, the spinner’s role might well be negated.

A whitewash not withstanding, Australia are still a shadow of their past

AS: Do not ever forget the Aussie grit. Smiles are back on the faces of Ricky Ponting and his men after their stupendous performance in the one-day series against England. This followed their Ashes debacle. They have a habit of coming back and coming back hard. Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martin and Andrew Symonds will be missed from the 2006 squad of Australia but their depth in bench strength is widely known. Captain Ricky Ponting will count squarely on youth and experience. They are in a group with in-form India, West Indies and Pakistan. The Aussies should not find it difficult getting past West Indies but they need to bring out their best against India and Pakistan.

RG: Australia are on a rampage in England.

A 6-0 lead in the ongoing ODI series has left them assured of the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings but will that be enough, heading into the ICC Champions Trophy, especially with India and Pakistan in their group?

The Aussies have been on a downhill journey for some time now and even a whitewash over England will not stand them in good stead in South Africa. Ricky Ponting has come back with a bang, scoring a hundred the other night. Brett Lee is back and seems to be spewing some venom with the white leather. However, there won’t be any England to face.

It will be India and Pakistan. India, even without Virender Sehwag, are a formidable batting side and if Ponting’s bowlers get it wrong against these guys, they can go on a leather hunt. Pakistan will offer a potent seam attack, what with Mohammad Asif now back in the team.

It will all come down to wins the psychological battle on the field. Really, for now, rankings just don’t matter. The defending champions will have the odds heavily stacked against them, with India and Pakistan in the same group.

South Africa are chokers and they are jinxed

AS: Despite South Africa's poor record of tournament win at home, a powerful batting line-up is there for the Proteas to score ahead. Yes, the bowling attack needed a bit of depth. South Africa has always been top contenders of the trophy but the buck stops there since they lost in crucial matches. Some may call it a Champions Trophy jinx but they really need to come out of it. This is the ideal time to do so. Graeme Smith has that confidence in his players to do the needful.

RG: Home advantage? Ask the South Africans about it. Graeme Smith’s men, no doubt are the best team in the world now, irrespective of what the rankings may suggest.

South Africa have played host to the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2007 ICC World Twenty20. While they could not get past the first round hurdle in 2003, the World Twenty20 was no better either, losing out to India in a tense match after being on a roll through the tournament.

They choke too. What happened in England during the ICC World Twenty20 this year? The Graeme Smith led team saw off everyone who came their way and were blown away by a resurgent Pakistan in the semi-final.

Yes, they did win the ICC Knock Out in 1998 but that was a decade back and in all these years of Proteas domination, they don’t have another major achievement to show.

Are they really up for major events? Are they chokers? Are they jinxed? We will find out in a few days from now.