Champions Trophy 2025: KL Rahul quashes report of Rohit Sharma being unfit for New Zealand game

Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has come forth to deny the rumour, fabricating it from the ground up, that India captain Rohit Sharma and pacer Mohammed Shami are not fit to play against New Zealand in the present Champions Trophy 2025.

When KL Rahul addressed the media during a news conference prior to the India vs. New Zealand match, it was made clear that none of the Indian team’s players were dealing with any kind of fitness issues. He promised that nobody’s fitness would prevent them from attending the forthcoming match.

KL Rahul affirmed on Friday, February 28 that “as far as I know, there are no concerns about anyone missing a game in terms of fitness.”

Temptations to test out other players prior to the semifinals: KL Rahul

Ahead of the match against the BlackCaps, the Karnataka cricket player also discussed possible alterations to the team’s lineup. Though he was unsure of who and how many players would be substituted in the forthcoming match, which is set for Sunday, March 02 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, he did believe that the Men in Blue would benefit from testing out untested individuals prior to the semifinals.

“I’m not sure if I’ll test different players before the semifinals, although there are temptations to do so. Since the semifinals are quickly approaching, you want players to play as much as possible. This is my opinion, but it could be different. “I don’t belong to the leadership group,” he continued.

The victor of the next match will end the league stage as the top-seeded team in Group A. Since neither team has lost yet, they each have four points, which will alter depending on the outcome of the next game.

Shubman Gill will skipper the Indian side for the first time in the ODI format if Rohit Sharma decides not to play in this match. Gill is notable for having already captained India in a series against Zimbabwe in July 2024 in Twenty20 Internationals.