The two teams Sourav Ganguly is calling favorites in the Champions Trophy.

 India and Pakistan as his two favorite teams in the Champions Trophy.

If everything goes as planned, the Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19. The host for this ICC tournament is the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Pakistan, as the host, is considered the hot favorite for the tournament, according to Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly.

In an interview, former Indian captain Gavaskar said that Pakistan can be called the favorite without hesitation since playing at home gives them a significant advantage. Beating Pakistan in their own conditions won't be an easy task.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly stated, "I believe India is one of the top contenders for the Champions Trophy, especially considering their excellent cricket in the 50-over World Cup. India, the defending champions of the last T20 World Cup, will hopefully maintain their consistent performance."

In the 2023 ODI World Cup, India reached the final with consistent wins but lost the title to Australia in the final.

The Champions Trophy tournament will feature eight teams, divided into two groups of four teams each..

• Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
• Group B: Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia.

A total of 15 matches will be played in the tournament across three venues in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.

The opening match of the tournament will take place on February 19 in Karachi, where host Pakistan will face New Zealand. On February 23, a high-voltage match between arch-rivals Pakistan and India will be held in Dubai.