Shubman Gill, the vice-captain, has refuted speculations about skipper Rohit Sharma’s immediate retirement plans. This statement came on the eve of the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai. Gill clarified that the team’s current focus is solely on winning the Champions Trophy, and there have been no discussions about Rohit’s retirement within the team.
Recent intense speculation suggested Rohit might announce his retirement, possibly following a pattern similar to his T20 format retirement after winning the World Cup in Barbados last June. The Champions Trophy final was anticipated as another opportune moment for such a declaration.
It was suggested that Sunday’s final could be the occasion for Rohit to step down from ODIs or even international cricket entirely, particularly given his recent struggles to score runs in both Test and ODI formats.
However, during the pre-final media conference at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Gill effectively put an end to these speculations. To ensure his message was clear and accurately reported, Gill returned to the media room post-conference to reiterate that he has no knowledge of Rohit’s retirement intentions.
Furthermore, Gill mentioned that the Indian team has a good understanding of the conditions at the DICS, despite local forecasts of changing weather. The high daytime temperatures raise the possibility of dew affecting the game during the night.
Gill anticipates consistent pitch behavior, similar to previous matches where high scores of 300 have been uncommon. He believes that regardless of weather conditions, the pitch will remain consistent, and India is well-prepared to play and bowl effectively on such surfaces. Notably, India has won all four of their matches at this venue in the tournament.
The young opener also expressed his excitement for his second ICC event final, recalling the 2023 World Cup final where India faced defeat against Australia. He conveyed his eagerness to win this time, learning from past experiences, while noting his absence from the T20 World Cup final in between.
Gill acknowledged the inherent pressure of a Champions Trophy final, distinguishing it from a regular match.
He elaborated that pressure is inevitable in major matches, even for less experienced teams, using Australia’s bowling attack in their last game as an example. He emphasized that the key to success in such high-stakes games is managing pressure effectively and focusing on the game itself rather than the magnitude of the occasion.
Gill underscored the value of experience in crucial matches, pointing to Virat Kohli’s example. Kohli’s extensive experience in significant games, including finals and semi-finals, equips him to handle pressure and understand the game’s dynamics, as demonstrated by his match-winning 84 in the semi-final.
Reflecting on his recent performance, Gill acknowledged his lower scores in the last two games, contrasting them with his initial success in the tournament, including a century against Bangladesh and 46 against Pakistan. He spent considerable time practicing batting with Rohit Sharma at the ICC Academy nets on Saturday, while other team members engaged in fielding and bowling drills at the DICS.
