Team India are all set to lock horns with New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played in Dubai on Sunday. Despite the occasion the chatter has mostly been around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's future in the ODI format. The senior duo had hung their boots from T20Is after winning the World Cup last year, and it is now being discussed that if India wins the Champions Trophy, both the batters or at least one can call time on his career.
Rohit's deputy Shubman Gill, who was addressing the pre-match press conference, was asked if there has been any discussion on the Indian skipper's retirement in the dressing room. Gill confirmed that the dressing room is not discussing retirement of the two modern-day greats, instead the talks have been on how to win the Champions Trophy.
"All discussions are on how to win the Champions Trophy. About this decision (Rohit's retirement) there has been no talks in the team or with me. I don't think Rohit bhai is also thinking about it."
Gill feels privileged to be a part of "best batting line-up" but said the depth in their order allows the top three to express themselves freely. "This is the best batting line up I am part of. Rohit is one of the best openers (in the world) and Virat, we need not tell about him. But our team has depth in batting and that allows the top order to bat with bit more freedom," Gill, India's most prolific 50-over batter in the last two years, said.
On the match front, Gill is aware of the huge pressure on them to win the trophy but exuded confidence that they will come up trumps unlike 2023 ODI World Cup which they lost to Australia. "We are all excited for the final. Last time we could not win the 50 over World Cup but we are determined to win this time," he said.
The prolific ODI batter believes that the team that handles pressure on big day will win the blue riband trophy. "There will be big match pressure. But whichever team deals with pressure will win the final. We just need to take it like any other match, and good teams will do that. We have played four matches here and done well, so there is no added pressure on us."
-with PTI inputs
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