New Delhi: As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 heats up, India’s preparations for the semi-finals have been overshadowed by concerns over captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness. In Dubai, where India is set to face New Zealand on Sunday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate offered reassurance about Rohit’s condition. “He’s all right,” ten Doeschate said, highlighting that Rohit has experience managing this type of injury. Despite the injury, Rohit participated in a longer batting session on Friday, though his participation in the upcoming match remains uncertain.
The focus on Rohit’s injury comes as India and New Zealand have already secured spots in the semi-finals, making their upcoming match more about securing top spot in Group A. Rohit’s hamstring issue, sustained during the match against Pakistan, has raised questions about whether he will be rested for the New Zealand game, with Shubman Gill potentially taking over as captain.
In other team news, KL Rahul discussed the pressure of competing with Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper spot. Rahul acknowledged Pant’s talent but emphasized his focus on performing well in his current role. The decision to prefer Rahul over Pant has sparked debate among fans and former cricketers, with some arguing for Pant’s inclusion due to his aggressive style.
Ten Doeschate also highlighted the importance of keeping Pant prepared, given the high level of competition in international cricket. “We’ve got to keep Rishabh up and running. We never know when we’re going to need him,” he noted.
