Even as the Indian team braces for the Kiwi challenge in Sunday's Champions Trophy final in Dubai, speculation is rife on the possible retirement of captain Rohit Sharma and batting mainstay Virat Kohli after the match. But vice-captain Shubman Gill on Saturday (March 8, 2025) said the topic had not been broached in the Indian camp. (Preview | Streaming | Full Coverage)
"There is no talk about retirement in the dressing room, now," Gill said at the pre-match press conference. Kohli and Rohit are still going strong in the 50-over format but it is being discussed in cricketing circles that if India clinch the Champions Trophy, one or both the batters might call time on their career in the format.
Gill hailed the Indian batting line-up, adding that the depth in their order was allowing the top three (Rohit, Gill and Virat) 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.
As for the match itself, the 25-year-old Gill is cognisant of the pressure on the team to win the trophy, but exuded confidence that they will come up trumps unlike the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they lost to Australia in the final.
"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 opener believes that the team that handles pressure better on Sunday will win the showpiece event. "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)
