Rohit Sharma will lead India into their fourth final at an ICC event as they prepare to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final. Despite criticism over his inability to convert promising starts into substantial scores, Sharma remains a pivotal figure in the team. India, undeterred in their pursuit of a global title, approaches the final with confidence and composure. Shubman Gill, participating in his second ICC event and second final for Team India, assures that the team is not desperate but focused on delivering their best performance.
India's batting depth has provided a strategic advantage, allowing top-order players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to bat with freedom. Kohli, an all-time one-day great alongside Sharma, has returned to form spectacularly, scoring an unbeaten 100 against Pakistan and 84 in the semifinal.
"The batting depth that we have has made life easier for the top-order batsmen. Those of us in the top order play with so much freedom because of our batting depth." – Shubman Gill
India's middle order, brimming with firepower, complements their robust top-order, making them the tournament's only unbeaten team. Their previous victory over New Zealand in a group game in Dubai adds to their confidence. Gill emphasizes the importance of staying balanced, recalling India's recent triumph at the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies last year under Sharma's captaincy.
"Winning the title in 2024 doesn’t mean that we are less hungry, but it makes us more balanced that, yes, we’ve won an ICC title, and we’ll try to do our best to win this one." – Shubman Gill
Speculation surrounds the possibility of this tournament being the final ICC event for both Sharma and Kohli. However, Gill dismisses any notion of desperation.
"Sometimes, once you get one title, that kind of breaks the jinx," he told reporters at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the eve of the final. "It gives you the momentum. Also, you are not very desperate about getting the title. It’s not good when desperation kicks in. Then, it becomes hard to put the occasion out of the equation." – Shubman Gill
