Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two veteran players, will play “massive roles” for the Indian squad in the Champions Trophy 2025, according to head coach Gautam Gambhir. Since the New Zealand Test series at home last year, Rohit and Kohli have both been going through a difficult time. Additionally, the two players’ performances in the Ranji Trophy were also unimpressive.
Both of them contribute to the set-up, thus Gambhir thinks they will be essential to the team’s hopes despite their current lack of form. The head coach emphasises their value in the locker room by saying they are eager and driven to play for the nation.
Both Virat and Rohit, in my opinion, greatly enhance the dressing room.
They also bring a great deal of value to Indian cricket. Their contribution to the Champions Trophy must be significant. And as I’ve already stated, those men are so hungry that they want to represent their country. Gambhir stated at the BCCI annual awards on Saturday, February 1, “They are passionate about playing and delivering for the country.”
India cannot afford to slow down at any point throughout the eight-team competition, Gambhir emphasised, because each match is crucial and the format is more condensed than the ODI World Cup.
In contrast to the 50-over World Cup, the Champions Trophy presents a whole different challenge because every match is crucial, meaning you can’t afford to lose. We’re hoping for a strong start since, in the end, you need to win five games to advance and win the competition,” Gambhir continued.
Regarding the match against bitter rivals Pakistan on February 23, Gambhir was also questioned. The team is approaching every game same, and the goal is to win the Champions Trophy, not a particular match, the 43-year-old remarked, downplaying the excitement.
“Look, we don’t play the Champions Trophy with the belief that the 23rd is our most crucial match. Five games, in my opinion, are all crucial. Instead of just winning one game, the goal of travelling to Dubai is to win the Champions Trophy. However, we will make every effort to treat it seriously if it would be the difference between winning the Champions Trophy and losing that game. “And more importantly, I think that when two countries, India and Pakistan, play against each other, obviously the emotions are really high, but the contest stays the same,” Gambhir said.
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