New Delhi: As India prepares to face Bangladesh in the opening match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai on Thursday, captain Rohit Sharma has highlighted the pivotal role Shubman Gill will play, particularly praising his outstanding One-Day International (ODI) statistics. Despite a disappointing Test series in Australia, Gill’s ODI performance has been nothing short of stellar, earning him the vice-captaincy of the Indian team.
“Gill is an exceptionally classy player,” Rohit Sharma emphasized during a pre-match press conference. “We often mistakenly judge players based on their performance across different formats, which isn’t fair. Each player has strengths in specific formats, and Gill’s prowess in ODIs is undeniable.”
Rohit Sharma underscored the significance of Gill’s numbers, which are indeed impressive. In 50 ODIs, Gill has accumulated 2,587 runs at an average of 60.16, including seven centuries and 15 fifties. “His numbers are crazy,” Rohit noted. “He has been superb for us over the last three to four years, which is why he has been elevated to vice-captain.”
Gill’s recent form was on full display during India’s 3-0 series win against England, where he was named the Player of the Series. His performance has been a key factor in India’s success, and Rohit hopes this momentum will continue into the Champions Trophy. “Hopefully, he will have a great tournament, which will help us achieve our goals,” Rohit added.
India’s campaign in the Champions Trophy will see them face Bangladesh, followed by matches against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2, all of which will be played in Dubai. Rohit acknowledged that while the team had a successful series against England, the conditions in Dubai will present a new challenge. “Every series and every venue has its own challenges. We need to quickly assess what is required here and adapt accordingly,” he said.
