NEW DELHI: As Team India prepares to face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday in Dubai, vice-captain Shubman Gill dismissed any off-field distractions, stating that there is no retirement talk in the dressing room. Instead, the team is fully focused on clinching the title after an unbeaten run in the tournament.
Addressing the media on the eve of the final, Gill expressed his excitement about playing in his second ICC final and emphasised the team’s determination to go one step further than they did in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they fell short at the last hurdle.
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“Very excited for my second ICC final… will try to do what we couldn’t do last time (2023 World Cup),” Gill said.
India’s batting lineup has been a dominant force throughout the tournament, with contributions from all key players. Gill did not hold back in praising the current unit, calling it the best he has been a part of.
“This is the best Indian batting lineup I have been part of. All-time greats Virat [Kohli] bhai and Rohit [Sharma] bhai. Rohit bhai is one of the best openers, Virat bhai is an all-time great. We have so much depth in our batting — KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer — everyone,” he said.
Regarding the pitch conditions for the final, Gill noted that the surface is expected to remain consistent with how it has played throughout the tournament, despite the hot weather.
“The pitch is not going to behave differently. Irrespective of the heat, it will play like it has in the tournament so far,” he added.
With speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s future, Gill made it clear that the team’s sole focus is on the final.
“No discussion in the dressing room or with me. Even Rohit bhai would be thinking about the Champions Trophy final, like all of us. So nothing like that now,” he clarified.
With India’s batting lineup firing on all cylinders and their bowlers in fine form, the Men in Blue will look to secure their third Champions Trophy title and cap off another stellar ICC campaign.
