Gautam Gambhir, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Saturday (01 February 2025) that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have to play a big role for the team in the upcoming Champions Trophy as these star batsmen are precious for the team and the cricket scenario of the country. Kohli and Rohit’s bad form in recent times has given air to speculation about their future. Gambhir said during the annual awards of the Cricket Board of India (BCCI), ‘I think both Rohit and Virat are very important for the dressing room. He is also very precious for Indian cricket. He has to play a big role in the Champions Trophy.
He said, ‘And I have said earlier that these players are hungry to score runs. They want to play for the country. They have a passion to play for the country and perform well for the country. Gambhir said that the team cannot rest even for a moment in the Champions Trophy as he has only three league matches in this tournament as compared to the 50 -over World Cup.
He said, ‘The Champions Trophy is a completely different challenge compared to the World Cup of50 over, because almost every match will be’ do or die ‘, so you cannot stop anywhere in this tournament.’ Gambhir said, “Therefore, we hope that we will really start well because if you want to win the competition, then you have to win five matches.”
Gambhir said on the ‘Hype’ on the ‘Bharat vs Pakistan’ match to be held in Dubai on 23 February, “Look, we do not go to the Champions Trophy thinking that the 23rd is the most important match for us on 23rd.” I think there are five matches and all are important. The goal of going to Dubai is to win the Champions Trophy, not just winning a special match.
He said, ‘But yes if there is a match between winning the Champions Trophy, then we will try to take it as seriously as possible.’ Gambhir said, ‘Most importantly, I think when two countries India and Pakistan play against each other, then obviously feelings are very high but eventually the match remains the same.’
The former Indian opener praised captain Suryakumar Yadav, who gave a new life in India’s T20 International team after the retirement of veteran Kohli and Rohit. He said, ‘When we talk about playing selflessly and fearless, then Suryakumar and Suryakumar think the same. But yes, we want to become more smart by moving forward because similarly we are trying to grow as a T20 team and hopefully in all other formats.
Gambhir said, ‘But I think the players are fantastic. They have skills, they have passion, they have ability and what they have done in the last six months, I think she is incredible. ‘ Gambhir also explained in detail about how to work for India in T20 Internationals.
He said, ‘I think the foundation of this T20 team was based on two principles. That is to play selflessly and fearless. This is what we want in the dressing room and these young players have given very good response. After winning the T20 World Cup in June last year, India is preparing for another global tournament for the Champions Trophy to be held later this month.
Captain Rohit Sharma said that it is important to focus on the challenge and perform at the right time. He said, ‘As we know the ICC Trophy now happens every year. So you do not have time to retreat. You always want to be ready for that challenge. We recently won the T20 World Cup which was fantastic for us. Now we will try to win another trophy.
Rohit said, ‘Everyone is preparing in their own way. Many players are playing domestic cricket, many players are also playing international cricket. So it is about focusing. When asked about India’s match against Pakistan, he called it just another match.
He said, ‘I think in the last two or three years I have talked about the game. This is just a match for us. We will try and do what any cricket team should do that day. We just want to do well there. India’s T20 International captain Suryakumar Yadav said that the team’s aggressive approach in the format is the result of management and ‘collective’ decision by players.
He said, ‘This is a collective effort. We have decided that we want to play similar cricket even further, no matter how we are in any situation. By the time you blink the eyelid in T20, the match ends. But everyone should have their own plan. But we have to think in the same way.
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