NEW DELHI: India vice-captain Shubman Gill admitted that there is “big match pressure” ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand but expressed confidence in India’s ability to handle it and claim the coveted title.
“The big-match pressure is always there. The last time (2023) we couldn’t do it, but we will try to do it this time. In a big match, the team that takes the pressure out of the equation has a better chance of winning,” Gill said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.
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He pointed to cricket’s greatest teams to highlight the importance of handling pressure in knockout games.
“This is the reason why we talk about big teams of previous years, including West Indies and Australia. Those teams played their best cricket in knockouts and used to take out pressure from the big-match equation. Easier said than done, but good teams play their best cricket under pressure,” he added.
While India has played four matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, including a victory over New Zealand, Gill downplayed any advantage.
“We have played four matches here and done really well. But I think the last time we played NZ, despite losing three wickets early, we played a good match and won comfortably. So I don’t think there is any added discussion. Obviously, someone in the top 3-5 firing would give us a better chance to chase a big total or put up a big total.”
Gill also noted the nature of the Dubai pitch, saying it will influence strategy.
“The kind of wicket we will play on would be the discussion. We have not seen a 300-plus total here. The wickets we are playing on are quite different from the ones in Pakistan,” he explained.
India broke a long ICC trophy drought by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, and Gill believes that triumph has given the team momentum and mental clarity.
“Once you get one title, it gives you momentum. You are not very desperate about getting the title. It’s not good when desperation kicks in.”
However, he made it clear that the hunger to win more ICC trophies remains.
“Winning the title in 2024 doesn’t mean we are less hungry, but it kind of gives us more balance that we have won an ICC title, and we will try to do our best to win this one,” he said.
