There&rsquo;s nothing Glenn Phillips cannot do.
Cricket might never see another Jonty Rhodes, but the likeliness of not seeing another Phillips is higher. After picking perhaps two of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-glenn-phillips-stunning-one-handed-catch-sends-virat-kohli-packing-watch-8771030" rel="dofollow">toughest yet aesthetically pleasing-looking catches</a> earlier in the tournament, Phillips took another contender for the &lsquo;catch of the tournament&rsquo; in the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-rohit-sharma-completes-first-ever-fifty-in-icc-finals-8837235" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma completes first-ever fifty in ICC finals</a>
After Indian openers Rohit Sharma and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill" rel="dofollow">Shubman Gill</a> put on a 100-plus stand for the first wicket, Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner broke the stand in the 19th over by removing Gill, courtesy of a blinder by Phillips at cover. Offered with a flighted delivery, Gill smashed it mercilessly towards the cover, only for Phillips to time his jump to perfection and grab another single-handed stunner to dismiss him on 31.
Let alone Gill and the Indian fans in attendance, Phillips couldn&rsquo;t believe what he did, with his reaction telling the complete story.
<h2>Watch the Video &ndash;</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m81rm03q-kde79tlv-5qxgnfdi">
Glenn Phillips taking one breath taking catch per match is almost guaranteed 💀 <a href="https://t.co/Y1ttY3KEAn">pic.twitter.com/Y1ttY3KEAn</a>
&mdash; Bazball&trade;️ (@BazballNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/BazballNation/status/1898743295200665984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
That catch, however, broke India&rsquo;s momentum, as they lost veteran batter Virat Kohli in the next over. Michael Bracewell did the magic for the Kiwis, trapping the Indian batting great right in the front, with him entirely missing the line.
With two wickets in two overs, New Zealand seemed to be back on track in this crunch final.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-2025-final-watch-all-new-zealand-wickets-8836985" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: Watch all New Zealand wickets</a>
The Kiwis made the most of the little momentum gained as they began piling pressure on the Indians. Though Shreyas Iyer survived a catch in the deep, with the fielder&rsquo;s feet touching the boundary rope, Rohit failed (in his attempt) to slog it straight over the bowler&rsquo;s head, getting stumped off Rachin Ravindra for a well-made 76.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Let alone the batter Gill and the Indian fans in attendance, Phillips couldn’t believe what he did, with his reaction telling the complete story.

There’s nothing Glenn Phillips cannot do. Cricket might never see another Jonty Rhodes, but the likeliness of not seeing another Phillips is higher. After picking perhaps two of the toughest yet aesthetically pleasing-looking catches earlier in the tournament, Phillips took another contender for the ‘catch of the tournament’ in the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma completes first-ever fifty in ICC finals After Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put on a 100-plus stand for the first wicket, Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner broke the stand in the 19th over by removing Gill, courtesy of a blinder by Phillips at cover. Offered with a flighted delivery, Gill smashed it mercilessly towards the cover, only for Phillips to time his jump to perfection and grab another single-handed stunner to dismiss him on 31. Let alone Gill and the Indian fans in attendance, Phillips couldn’t believe what he did, with his reaction telling the complete story. Watch the Video – Glenn Phillips taking one breath taking catch per match is almost guaranteed 💀 pic.twitter.com/Y1ttY3KEAn — Bazball™️ (@BazballNation) March 9, 2025 That catch, however, broke India’s momentum, as they lost veteran batter Virat Kohli in the next over. Michael Bracewell did the magic for the Kiwis, trapping the Indian batting great right in the front, with him entirely missing the line. With two wickets in two overs, New Zealand seemed to be back on track in this crunch final. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy Final: Watch all New Zealand wickets The Kiwis made the most of the little momentum gained as they began piling pressure on the Indians. Though Shreyas Iyer survived a catch in the deep, with the fielder’s feet touching the boundary rope, Rohit failed (in his attempt) to slog it straight over the bowler’s head, getting stumped off Rachin Ravindra for a well-made 76. (With inputs from agencies)

Unbelievable! Glenn ‘Superman’ Phillips plucks ‘Catch of the tournament’ - Watch

The ICC Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand in Dubai is set to be a thrilling sequel to their iconic clash in the same tournament 25 years ago. With the title on the line, this match could shape the legacies of several players on both sides.
Over the years, India-New Zealand encounters have been defined by key battles&mdash;whether it's Virat Kohli's masterclass in a chase, crucial supporting knocks from KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, or Kiwi pacers like Matt Henry and Trent Boult ripping through India's top order. More recently, both teams have relied on their spinners to dictate terms. The final promises to follow a similar script, with multiple subplots shaping its outcome.
WION takes a look at the key battles and factors to watch out for:
<h2>Matt Henry's fitness: A decisive factor</h2>
The leading wicket-taker of the tournament, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/matt-henry">Matt Henry</a> has been lethal, taking 10 wickets at an average of 16.70, including a five-wicket haul. His ability to trouble India is well documented&mdash;most notably in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, where his early strikes derailed India's chase of 239.
Henry has dismissed Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill twice each in ODIs, with the duo averaging just 29 and 31.50 against him. He has also gotten the better of Kohli and enjoys an upper hand against KL Rahul.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-trophy-betting-despite-ban-arrests-satta-market-thrives-with-57mn-in-play-reports-8835863">Champions Trophy betting: Despite ban, arrests, 'satta market' thrives with $57mn in play - Reports</a>
If Henry is ruled out due to his shoulder injury from the semifinal, New Zealand will turn to Kyle Jamieson and Will O&rsquo;Rourke. However, O&rsquo;Rourke is not a regular new-ball bowler, which could work in India's favour. Jacob Duffy and all-rounder Nathan Smith are backup options but lack Henry&rsquo;s experience and impact. If Henry plays, India&rsquo;s top order will have a big challenge ahead. If he doesn't, expect Rohit and Gill to go on the attack.
<h2>India&rsquo;s middle order vs Santner &amp; Bracewell</h2>
New Zealand&rsquo;s spin duo of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-santner">Mitchell Santner</a> (7 wickets at 27.71) and Michael Bracewell (6 wickets at 28.83) have been effective, despite playing most of their matches on batting-friendly tracks in Pakistan.
Santner, who has 16 ODI wickets this year at an economy of 4.48, has troubled India before. His 13-wicket haul in last year&rsquo;s Pune Test showcased his ability to exploit slow conditions. Since 2023, he has dismissed Kohli and Rahul twice each, conceding just 37 and 2 runs to them, respectively. While Rohit and Gill have dominated him with strike rates of 125 and 116.6, the slower Dubai surface could make scoring against him difficult.
Bracewell has also gone under the radar, picking up 12 wickets this year at an economy of 4.36. How Santner and Bracewell contain India&rsquo;s engine room of Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Rahul&mdash;masters of strike rotation and calculated aggression&mdash;could be a turning point.
<h2>Rachin Ravindra: The X-factor</h2>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rachin-ravindra">Rachin Ravindra</a> has been in sublime form, scoring 226 runs, including two centuries, in the tournament. His only failure came against India in Dubai, where he fell for just six runs to Hardik Pandya.
India has largely kept him quiet, dismissing him for scores of 94, 75, and 6. However, his prowess against spin&mdash;489 runs at an average above 61 and a strike rate above 112&mdash;makes him a serious threat. The 2023 World Cup showed his ability to dominate spinners, and if he gets going, India&rsquo;s slow bowlers will have a tough challenge.
<h2>Indian spinners vs New Zealand&rsquo;s middle order</h2>
India&rsquo;s spin attack, led by mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, could pose serious problems for New Zealand. The last time the Kiwis played in Dubai, Chakaravarthy dismantled their middle order with a stunning 5/42 while defending 250.
India also boasts an in-form spin trio&mdash;Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. In their last meeting, New Zealand struggled against spin, crawling from 44/1 to 93/2 between overs 11-25. Despite having elite spin players like Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand could once again find themselves in a stranglehold if India unleashes another spin choke.
<h2>Fitness and fielding in Dubai heat</h2>
With temperatures expected to touch 34&deg;C during the final, fitness and fielding will be crucial. Both teams have some of the fittest players in world cricket, but endurance in the sweltering heat&mdash;especially while fielding and running between the wickets&mdash;will be tested.

Sports, Cricket: India-New Zealand encounters have been defined by key battles and with the title on the line, this match could shape the legacies of several players on both sides

The ICC Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand in Dubai is set to be a thrilling sequel to their iconic clash in the same tournament 25 years ago. With the title on the line, this match could shape the legacies of several players on both sides. Over the years, India-New Zealand encounters have been defined by key battles—whether it's Virat Kohli's masterclass in a chase, crucial supporting knocks from KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, or Kiwi pacers like Matt Henry and Trent Boult ripping through India's top order. More recently, both teams have relied on their spinners to dictate terms. The final promises to follow a similar script, with multiple subplots shaping its outcome. WION takes a look at the key battles and factors to watch out for: Matt Henry's fitness: A decisive factor The leading wicket-taker of the tournament, Matt Henry has been lethal, taking 10 wickets at an average of 16.70, including a five-wicket haul. His ability to trouble India is well documented—most notably in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, where his early strikes derailed India's chase of 239. Henry has dismissed Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill twice each in ODIs, with the duo averaging just 29 and 31.50 against him. He has also gotten the better of Kohli and enjoys an upper hand against KL Rahul. Also Read: Champions Trophy betting: Despite ban, arrests, 'satta market' thrives with $57mn in play - Reports If Henry is ruled out due to his shoulder injury from the semifinal, New Zealand will turn to Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke. However, O’Rourke is not a regular new-ball bowler, which could work in India's favour. Jacob Duffy and all-rounder Nathan Smith are backup options but lack Henry’s experience and impact. If Henry plays, India’s top order will have a big challenge ahead. If he doesn't, expect Rohit and Gill to go on the attack. India’s middle order vs Santner & Bracewell New Zealand’s spin duo of Mitchell Santner (7 wickets at 27.71) and Michael Bracewell (6 wickets at 28.83) have been effective, despite playing most of their matches on batting-friendly tracks in Pakistan. Santner, who has 16 ODI wickets this year at an economy of 4.48, has troubled India before. His 13-wicket haul in last year’s Pune Test showcased his ability to exploit slow conditions. Since 2023, he has dismissed Kohli and Rahul twice each, conceding just 37 and 2 runs to them, respectively. While Rohit and Gill have dominated him with strike rates of 125 and 116.6, the slower Dubai surface could make scoring against him difficult. Bracewell has also gone under the radar, picking up 12 wickets this year at an economy of 4.36. How Santner and Bracewell contain India’s engine room of Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Rahul—masters of strike rotation and calculated aggression—could be a turning point. Rachin Ravindra: The X-factor Rachin Ravindra has been in sublime form, scoring 226 runs, including two centuries, in the tournament. His only failure came against India in Dubai, where he fell for just six runs to Hardik Pandya. India has largely kept him quiet, dismissing him for scores of 94, 75, and 6. However, his prowess against spin—489 runs at an average above 61 and a strike rate above 112—makes him a serious threat. The 2023 World Cup showed his ability to dominate spinners, and if he gets going, India’s slow bowlers will have a tough challenge. Indian spinners vs New Zealand’s middle order India’s spin attack, led by mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, could pose serious problems for New Zealand. The last time the Kiwis played in Dubai, Chakaravarthy dismantled their middle order with a stunning 5/42 while defending 250. India also boasts an in-form spin trio—Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. In their last meeting, New Zealand struggled against spin, crawling from 44/1 to 93/2 between overs 11-25. Despite having elite spin players like Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand could once again find themselves in a stranglehold if India unleashes another spin choke. Fitness and fielding in Dubai heat With temperatures expected to touch 34°C during the final, fitness and fielding will be crucial. Both teams have some of the fittest players in world cricket, but endurance in the sweltering heat—especially while fielding and running between the wickets—will be tested.

Champions Trophy Final: Five key battles that could decide India-New Zealand final outcome

As India prepares to face New Zealand in the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy</a> 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, vice-captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> has hailed the current batting lineup as the best he has ever been part of in his career.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gill praised the presence of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with a deep and in-form middle order that allows the top-order batters to play more freely.
"I think this is the best batting lineup that I have personally been a part of. Rohit and Virat are all-time one-day greats. Rohit is one of the best white-ball openers, and Virat is arguably the best ODI batsman ever," Gill said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-live-score-today-final-match-updates-live-streaming-champions-trophy-2025-ball-by-ball-commentary-full-scorecard-india-vs-new-zealand-dubai-stadium-9-march-8835543">IND vs NZ Final Live Score: India-New Zealand square off in summit clash</a>
He further emphasised the depth in India's batting, crediting the presence of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a>, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ravindra-jadeja">Ravindra Jadeja</a> for reducing pressure on the top order.
"In terms of batting, we have Shreyas in great form, KL, Hardik, and Jaddu, which gives us depth. This allows the top-order players to be more aggressive because we have strong backup options," he added.
Reflecting on past challenges, Gill admitted that India's top order used to face additional pressure due to the lack of batting depth. However, he believes the current squad has successfully addressed this issue.
"This was something we struggled with in the past. There wasn&rsquo;t enough batting depth, which meant added pressure on the top order to bat long. But now, we have more freedom to play our natural game," he explained.
With India looking to secure another ICC title, all eyes will be on how they tackle New Zealand in this high-stakes final.
<h2 data-start="1730" data-end="1763">A chance for redemption</h2>
India remains unbeaten in the tournament, while New Zealand has showcased solid performances under Mitchell Santner&rsquo;s leadership. The clash serves as an opportunity for India to avenge past losses to the Kiwis, including the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final and the 2021 World Test Championship final.
In their previous encounter last week, India secured a 44-run win over New Zealand, posting 249 runs before bowling the Black Caps out for 205 in 46 overs. Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with 79 off 98 balls, while Matt Henry starred for New Zealand with 5/42. India&rsquo;s spin attack dominated, with Varun Chakravarthy delivering a match-winning performance of 5/42 in just his second ODI.
<h2 data-start="2203" data-end="2234">Squads:</h2>
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O&rsquo;Rourke, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Smith, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Gill praised the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with a deep and in-form middle order that allows the top-order batters to play more freely

As India prepares to face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, vice-captain Shubman Gill has hailed the current batting lineup as the best he has ever been part of in his career. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gill praised the presence of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with a deep and in-form middle order that allows the top-order batters to play more freely. "I think this is the best batting lineup that I have personally been a part of. Rohit and Virat are all-time one-day greats. Rohit is one of the best white-ball openers, and Virat is arguably the best ODI batsman ever," Gill said. Also Read: IND vs NZ Final Live Score: India-New Zealand square off in summit clash He further emphasised the depth in India's batting, crediting the presence of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja for reducing pressure on the top order. "In terms of batting, we have Shreyas in great form, KL, Hardik, and Jaddu, which gives us depth. This allows the top-order players to be more aggressive because we have strong backup options," he added. Reflecting on past challenges, Gill admitted that India's top order used to face additional pressure due to the lack of batting depth. However, he believes the current squad has successfully addressed this issue. "This was something we struggled with in the past. There wasn’t enough batting depth, which meant added pressure on the top order to bat long. But now, we have more freedom to play our natural game," he explained. With India looking to secure another ICC title, all eyes will be on how they tackle New Zealand in this high-stakes final. A chance for redemption India remains unbeaten in the tournament, while New Zealand has showcased solid performances under Mitchell Santner’s leadership. The clash serves as an opportunity for India to avenge past losses to the Kiwis, including the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final and the 2021 World Test Championship final. In their previous encounter last week, India secured a 44-run win over New Zealand, posting 249 runs before bowling the Black Caps out for 205 in 46 overs. Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with 79 off 98 balls, while Matt Henry starred for New Zealand with 5/42. India’s spin attack dominated, with Varun Chakravarthy delivering a match-winning performance of 5/42 in just his second ODI. Squads: India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh. New Zealand: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Smith, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy: 'Best batting line-up that I have been part of', says Shubman Gill ahead of final

The ghost of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where Australia beat host India in front of an over 100,000 crowd in Ahmedabad, continues to haunt the Men in Blue as they prepare for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> showdown against New Zealand in Dubai. Ahead of the marquee final on Sunday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-vice-captain-shubman-gill-reveals-rohit-sharmas-retirement-plan-as-champions-trophy-final-2025-looms-8834685" rel="dofollow">Team India vice-captain Shubman Gill</a> admitted that &lsquo;big game pressure&rsquo; is real, adding they failed to get the better of it the last time but are eager and motivated to go past the winning line this time.
Gill explains what happens on such days and who stands tall.
&ldquo;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-game presser in Dubai.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-indias-record-in-icc-finals-played-on-sundays-which-day-is-luckiest-for-men-in-blue-8834254" rel="dofollow">India&rsquo;s record in ICC finals played on &lsquo;Sundays&rsquo;; which day is luckiest for Men in Blue?</a>
Adding further on what works for those teams that do well in big games, Gill said mighty sides are better at absorbing pressure while thriving on such occasions to play their best cricket.
Mentioning West Indies and Australia in the same breath, Gill said, &ldquo;This is the reason why we talk about big teams of previous years, including West Indies and Australia."&nbsp;
&ldquo;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.
<h2>Gill downplays Dubai advantage</h2>
Amid talks of how India enjoyed the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule, which many believe was formulated to benefit the Men in Blue, Gill downplayed any such reports. With India playing all its matches in Dubai, including the final, the right-handed batter shed little light on what was discussed behind the curtain.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-champions-trophy-final-ravi-ashwin-handpicks-indias-trump-card-for-dubai-showdown-8834047" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ Champions Trophy final: Ashwin handpicks India&rsquo;s trump card for Dubai showdown</a>
&ldquo;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.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;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,&rdquo; he continued.
<h2>'India motivated'</h2>
India failed to win any ICC tournament since 2013 despite coming close on several occasions across formats. Gill feels after India clinched the second T20 World Cup title last year in the Americas, it broke that shackle, helping them gain winning momentum.
&ldquo;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."
"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 added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: India vice-captain Shubman Gill said mighty sides are better at absorbing pressure while thriving on such occasions to play their best cricket.

The ghost of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where Australia beat host India in front of an over 100,000 crowd in Ahmedabad, continues to haunt the Men in Blue as they prepare for the Champions Trophy 2025 showdown against New Zealand in Dubai. Ahead of the marquee final on Sunday, Team India vice-captain Shubman Gill admitted that ‘big game pressure’ is real, adding they failed to get the better of it the last time but are eager and motivated to go past the winning line this time. Gill explains what happens on such days and who stands tall. “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-game presser in Dubai. Also read | India’s record in ICC finals played on ‘Sundays’; which day is luckiest for Men in Blue? Adding further on what works for those teams that do well in big games, Gill said mighty sides are better at absorbing pressure while thriving on such occasions to play their best cricket. Mentioning West Indies and Australia in the same breath, Gill said, “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. Gill downplays Dubai advantage Amid talks of how India enjoyed the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule, which many believe was formulated to benefit the Men in Blue, Gill downplayed any such reports. With India playing all its matches in Dubai, including the final, the right-handed batter shed little light on what was discussed behind the curtain. Also read | IND vs NZ Champions Trophy final: Ashwin handpicks India’s trump card for Dubai showdown “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,” he continued. 'India motivated' India failed to win any ICC tournament since 2013 despite coming close on several occasions across formats. Gill feels after India clinched the second T20 World Cup title last year in the Americas, it broke that shackle, helping them gain winning momentum. “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." "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 added. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy Final: CWC 2023 final’s ghost still haunts India as Gill admits ‘big game pressure’

Team India vice-captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill" rel="dofollow">Shubman Gill</a> revealed skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rohit-sharmas-future-ties-with-thin-thread-amid-champions-trophy-success-report-8831278" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s retirement plan</a> ahead of the mega <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> final on Sunday in Dubai. As the cricket world gears up for the marquee clash between two former winners, the Indian fans are sweating over Rohit&rsquo;s future as a player and captain. On the eve of the summit clash, Gill addressed the media and shed light on Rohit&rsquo;s plans.
The Indian captain was under tremendous pressure over his position (as a skipper and in the team) after conceding the chance to qualify for the WTC Final 2025. Rohit was out of touch against New Zealand in the home Test series late last year, which India surrendered (0-3); later, against Australia Down Under, Rohit scored just 31 runs across three Tests, with India losing the BGT (1-3) for the first time in ten years.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-nz-injury-scare-for-virat-kohli-ahead-of-champions-trophy-final-report-8834512" rel="dofollow">IND vs NZ: Injury scare for Virat Kohli ahead of Champions Trophy final &ndash; Report</a>
Though he gained some form against England in the white-ball series before the Champions Trophy, Rohit failed to convert his starts into big totals in this edition. Concerned about his lean patch, several reports have stated that the BCCI, the selectors, and even the head coach have spoken with Rohit about his future as an ODI cricketer.&nbsp;
With everything kept under wraps thus far, speculations of Rohit nearing his international retirement have made headlines lately.
Addressing this ahead of the crucial Sunday showdown in Dubai, Gill said, "We have not discussed it. All the chatter and the discussion are about winning the match. And what we have to do to win the match."&nbsp;
&ldquo;He (Rohit) has not spoken to the team about this or to me. I think Rohit is thinking about winning the final as well. I think he is focusing on winning the Champions Trophy first."&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think, once the match gets over tomorrow, he will take a call, but I have not heard of this from anyone in the team," Shubman Gill said at the pre-match presser.
Meanwhile, in four contested matches thus far, Rohit has scored just 104 runs, striking at over 100 (107.22).&nbsp;
<h2>India-New Zealand ready for the CT Final</h2>
India and New Zealand made it to yet another ICC final.&nbsp;
While the Men in Blue are unbeaten thus far in this competition, winning four out of four contested matches, New Zealand lost just one in the group stage (to India).&nbsp;
Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s India beat former two-time winners Australia in the semis in Dubai, and New Zealand prevailed over the Proteas in the second semi-final in Lahore.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: With everything kept under wraps thus far, speculations of Rohit nearing his international retirement have made headlines lately.

Team India vice-captain Shubman Gill revealed skipper Rohit Sharma’s retirement plan ahead of the mega Champions Trophy 2025 final on Sunday in Dubai. As the cricket world gears up for the marquee clash between two former winners, the Indian fans are sweating over Rohit’s future as a player and captain. On the eve of the summit clash, Gill addressed the media and shed light on Rohit’s plans. The Indian captain was under tremendous pressure over his position (as a skipper and in the team) after conceding the chance to qualify for the WTC Final 2025. Rohit was out of touch against New Zealand in the home Test series late last year, which India surrendered (0-3); later, against Australia Down Under, Rohit scored just 31 runs across three Tests, with India losing the BGT (1-3) for the first time in ten years. Also read | IND vs NZ: Injury scare for Virat Kohli ahead of Champions Trophy final – Report Though he gained some form against England in the white-ball series before the Champions Trophy, Rohit failed to convert his starts into big totals in this edition. Concerned about his lean patch, several reports have stated that the BCCI, the selectors, and even the head coach have spoken with Rohit about his future as an ODI cricketer. With everything kept under wraps thus far, speculations of Rohit nearing his international retirement have made headlines lately. Addressing this ahead of the crucial Sunday showdown in Dubai, Gill said, "We have not discussed it. All the chatter and the discussion are about winning the match. And what we have to do to win the match." “He (Rohit) has not spoken to the team about this or to me. I think Rohit is thinking about winning the final as well. I think he is focusing on winning the Champions Trophy first." “I think, once the match gets over tomorrow, he will take a call, but I have not heard of this from anyone in the team," Shubman Gill said at the pre-match presser. Meanwhile, in four contested matches thus far, Rohit has scored just 104 runs, striking at over 100 (107.22). India-New Zealand ready for the CT Final India and New Zealand made it to yet another ICC final. While the Men in Blue are unbeaten thus far in this competition, winning four out of four contested matches, New Zealand lost just one in the group stage (to India). Rohit Sharma’s India beat former two-time winners Australia in the semis in Dubai, and New Zealand prevailed over the Proteas in the second semi-final in Lahore. (With inputs from agencies)

Vice-captain Gill reveals Rohit’s retirement plan as Champions Trophy final looms

India's young batting star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> is eager to channel the lessons learned from the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final as he prepares to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday (March 9).
A year ago, India was on the brink of replicating the 2011 World Cup triumph under MS Dhoni, but a stunning innings from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/travis-head">Travis Head</a> shattered their dreams in Ahmedabad. The Men in Blue had enjoyed a near-perfect campaign, winning all nine group-stage matches and dominating New Zealand in the semi-final before falling short in the title clash.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/wpl-2025-from-watching-malinga-to-matching-his-feat-amelia-kerrs-milestone-for-mumbai-indians-8833190">WPL 2025: From watching Malinga to matching his feat: Amelia Kerr&rsquo;s milestone for Mumbai Indians</a>
Now, with another shot at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/icc">ICC</a> glory, Gill, currently the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, is determined to ensure a solid start for India, easing the burden on the middle order in the high-pressure decider.
<h2>'Patience is key'</h2>
Reflecting on his first ICC final, Gill acknowledged the nerves that came with the occasion and emphasised the importance of patience in big matches.
"(It felt like) I was losing time to dominate in that game. I think in big ICC knockout matches, you can give yourself a little bit more time than you think," he shared.
Gill also pointed to India's recent success in the 2024 T20 World Cup as a confidence booster. "We lost (the ODI World Cup final) in '23 and then won the T20 World Cup (in 2024). So I think we have got good momentum going into this tournament."
With the weight of expectations from millions of Indian fans, Gill believes this final presents a golden opportunity for the team to cap off a strong year in international cricket. "It's going to be a really exciting game for us. If we win this one, it would be a great way to end this format this year."

Sports, Cricket: Gill, currently the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, is determined to ensure a solid start for India, easing the burden on the middle order in the high-pressure decider

India's young batting star Shubman Gill is eager to channel the lessons learned from the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final as he prepares to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday (March 9). A year ago, India was on the brink of replicating the 2011 World Cup triumph under MS Dhoni, but a stunning innings from Travis Head shattered their dreams in Ahmedabad. The Men in Blue had enjoyed a near-perfect campaign, winning all nine group-stage matches and dominating New Zealand in the semi-final before falling short in the title clash. Also Read: WPL 2025: From watching Malinga to matching his feat: Amelia Kerr’s milestone for Mumbai Indians Now, with another shot at ICC glory, Gill, currently the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, is determined to ensure a solid start for India, easing the burden on the middle order in the high-pressure decider. 'Patience is key' Reflecting on his first ICC final, Gill acknowledged the nerves that came with the occasion and emphasised the importance of patience in big matches. "(It felt like) I was losing time to dominate in that game. I think in big ICC knockout matches, you can give yourself a little bit more time than you think," he shared. Gill also pointed to India's recent success in the 2024 T20 World Cup as a confidence booster. "We lost (the ODI World Cup final) in '23 and then won the T20 World Cup (in 2024). So I think we have got good momentum going into this tournament." With the weight of expectations from millions of Indian fans, Gill believes this final presents a golden opportunity for the team to cap off a strong year in international cricket. "It's going to be a really exciting game for us. If we win this one, it would be a great way to end this format this year."

Champions Trophy:  India vice-captain Shubman Gill eyes redemption, says patience will be key in final

India has stamped its authority in the ongoing ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> 2025, cruising through the group stage unbeaten. With three clinical wins under their belt, the Men in Blue have set the stage for a high-stakes semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4).
From a fiery opening win against Bangladesh to a high-voltage triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan and a commanding performance against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's men have showcased a perfect blend of skill, depth, and resilience. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their dominant journey so far.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-i-always-believe-former-coach-shastri-backs-varun-to-come-good-in-semis-8774663">Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis</a>
<h2>Beat Bangladesh by six wickets</h2>
India's tournament opener saw them prevail in a tight contest against Bangladesh in Dubai, registering a sizzling six-wicket win to begin their campaign on a winning note.&nbsp;Pacer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami">Mohammed Shami</a>'s impressive 5/53, combined with three wickets from Harshit Rana and two from Axar Patel, restricted Bangladesh to 228.
Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101*, combined with stylish knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, ensured smooth sailing for India as they chased down the total with 21 balls to spare.
<h2>Dominant win over arch-rivals</h2>
In their high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, India displayed their all-round prowess by chasing down 241 runs with six wickets in hand yet again.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kuldeep-yadav">Kuldeep Yadav</a> weaved his magic for the Indian side by taking three crucial wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 241 in 49.4 overs. Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) came in handy with some crucial knocks, but the age-old rivalry was marked primarily by a Virat Kohli masterclass that saw him score an unbeaten 100 to steer India to victory.
<h2>Beat New Zealand by 44 runs</h2>
A different challenge for Rohit Sharma's side in the form of New Zealand, with the winner staying unbeaten in the tournament and earning top spot in Group A.
New Zealand's bowlers did well to restrict India's batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45) leading the way as the Men in Blue posted a competitive total of 249/9 after they were put to bat first.
It was a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/varun-chakaravarthy">Varun Chakravarthy</a> show in reply, with the spinner claiming an impressive five-wicket haul to help bowl New Zealand bundle out for 205 in reply as India progressed through to the final four with their unbeaten record intact.

Cricket, Sports: Three dominating wins from as many matches have India in fine form ahead of their knockout semi-final against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4)

India has stamped its authority in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, cruising through the group stage unbeaten. With three clinical wins under their belt, the Men in Blue have set the stage for a high-stakes semi-final clash against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday (March 4). From a fiery opening win against Bangladesh to a high-voltage triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan and a commanding performance against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's men have showcased a perfect blend of skill, depth, and resilience. As they gear up for the knockout battle, WION takes a closer look at their dominant journey so far. Also Read: Champions Trophy: 'I always believe...,' former coach Shastri backs Varun to come good in semis Beat Bangladesh by six wickets India's tournament opener saw them prevail in a tight contest against Bangladesh in Dubai, registering a sizzling six-wicket win to begin their campaign on a winning note. Pacer Mohammed Shami's impressive 5/53, combined with three wickets from Harshit Rana and two from Axar Patel, restricted Bangladesh to 228. Shubman Gill's unbeaten 101*, combined with stylish knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, ensured smooth sailing for India as they chased down the total with 21 balls to spare. Dominant win over arch-rivals In their high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, India displayed their all-round prowess by chasing down 241 runs with six wickets in hand yet again. Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic for the Indian side by taking three crucial wickets to bundle out Pakistan for 241 in 49.4 overs. Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) came in handy with some crucial knocks, but the age-old rivalry was marked primarily by a Virat Kohli masterclass that saw him score an unbeaten 100 to steer India to victory. Beat New Zealand by 44 runs A different challenge for Rohit Sharma's side in the form of New Zealand, with the winner staying unbeaten in the tournament and earning top spot in Group A. New Zealand's bowlers did well to restrict India's batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer (79) and Hardik Pandya (45) leading the way as the Men in Blue posted a competitive total of 249/9 after they were put to bat first. It was a Varun Chakravarthy show in reply, with the spinner claiming an impressive five-wicket haul to help bowl New Zealand bundle out for 205 in reply as India progressed through to the final four with their unbeaten record intact.

Champions Trophy 2025: Recapping India's road to semi-finals

India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul acknowledged that rotating the strike during the middle overs against both spinners and pacers has been a challenge on the slower pitches at the Dubai International Stadium in the 2025 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a>. Batting second has been particularly tricky, with the surfaces offering turn, as seen in India&rsquo;s chases of 228 against Bangladesh and 249 against Pakistan.
Despite the conditions, India&rsquo;s batters have adapted well, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> scoring centuries to maintain momentum and minimise dot balls. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kl-rahul">Rahul</a> admitted that the test will be tougher on Sunday (March 2) when India faces New Zealand in their final Group A match.
"Finding ways to rotate the strike quickly against both spinners and fast bowlers has been difficult. When dot balls pile up, the pressure increases, forcing batters to either take risks with big shots or play conservatively, which creates opportunities for the opposition. That has been the main challenge," Rahul said in Friday&rsquo;s pre-match press conference.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/exclusive-beyond-the-finish-line-the-unseen-struggles-of-indian-athletes-8767056">Exclusive | Beyond the finish line: The unseen struggles of Indian athletes</a>
"We&rsquo;re working on reducing our dot ball percentage. While we all enjoy hitting boundaries, it's not always possible on these pitches. The key is to make smart decisions, choosing the right moments to take risks based on the conditions and bowlers," he added.
A crucial part of India's strategy has been discussing how to manipulate field placements to create gaps for singles. "Moving the fifth fielder strategically allows us to rotate the strike more effectively. If the top-order batters can build big scores, it eases the pressure on middle and lower-order players like Hardik (Pandya), Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), or Axar (Patel) when they come in," Rahul explained.
<h2 data-start="1314" data-end="1725">'I am used to reading criticism'</h2>
To prepare better, Rahul has been consulting with his teammates, including Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, to gain insights into the wicket and understand which strokes work best.
"We&rsquo;re constantly talking within the group. Players like Shubman, Virat, and Shreyas have spent significant time at the crease, so we ask them about their approach&mdash;whether they targeted square of the wicket or played straighter. It&rsquo;s about understanding what works best for each individual," he said.
"Some players prefer sweeping or reverse sweeping, while others opt for aggressive shots down the ground or off the back foot. Each batter sticks to their strengths, practicing accordingly so that they can execute their plans in the middle," he added.
Addressing criticism on social media, Rahul said he has learned to handle it by assessing whether it is valid.
"I'm used to hearing and reading criticism. Sometimes, I reflect on it to see if it&rsquo;s justified. I will make mistakes in reading the game, and I will fail at times&mdash;that&rsquo;s the nature of sport. But as long as I play with the right intent and believe I&rsquo;m making the best decisions for my team, I can sleep peacefully. If the criticism is constructive, I take it into account," he signed off.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Despite the conditions, India’s batters have adapted well, with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli scoring centuries to maintain momentum and minimise dot balls

India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul acknowledged that rotating the strike during the middle overs against both spinners and pacers has been a challenge on the slower pitches at the Dubai International Stadium in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Batting second has been particularly tricky, with the surfaces offering turn, as seen in India’s chases of 228 against Bangladesh and 249 against Pakistan. Despite the conditions, India’s batters have adapted well, with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli scoring centuries to maintain momentum and minimise dot balls. However, Rahul admitted that the test will be tougher on Sunday (March 2) when India faces New Zealand in their final Group A match. "Finding ways to rotate the strike quickly against both spinners and fast bowlers has been difficult. When dot balls pile up, the pressure increases, forcing batters to either take risks with big shots or play conservatively, which creates opportunities for the opposition. That has been the main challenge," Rahul said in Friday’s pre-match press conference. Also Read: Exclusive | Beyond the finish line: The unseen struggles of Indian athletes "We’re working on reducing our dot ball percentage. While we all enjoy hitting boundaries, it's not always possible on these pitches. The key is to make smart decisions, choosing the right moments to take risks based on the conditions and bowlers," he added. A crucial part of India's strategy has been discussing how to manipulate field placements to create gaps for singles. "Moving the fifth fielder strategically allows us to rotate the strike more effectively. If the top-order batters can build big scores, it eases the pressure on middle and lower-order players like Hardik (Pandya), Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), or Axar (Patel) when they come in," Rahul explained. 'I am used to reading criticism' To prepare better, Rahul has been consulting with his teammates, including Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, to gain insights into the wicket and understand which strokes work best. "We’re constantly talking within the group. Players like Shubman, Virat, and Shreyas have spent significant time at the crease, so we ask them about their approach—whether they targeted square of the wicket or played straighter. It’s about understanding what works best for each individual," he said. "Some players prefer sweeping or reverse sweeping, while others opt for aggressive shots down the ground or off the back foot. Each batter sticks to their strengths, practicing accordingly so that they can execute their plans in the middle," he added. Addressing criticism on social media, Rahul said he has learned to handle it by assessing whether it is valid. "I'm used to hearing and reading criticism. Sometimes, I reflect on it to see if it’s justified. I will make mistakes in reading the game, and I will fail at times—that’s the nature of sport. But as long as I play with the right intent and believe I’m making the best decisions for my team, I can sleep peacefully. If the criticism is constructive, I take it into account," he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: Rotating strike against spinners or pacers is a challenge, admits KL Rahul

Ace Indian batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill" rel="dofollow">Shubman Gill</a> will make his ODI captaincy debut against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (Mar 2). With reports of regular captain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma</a> skipping India&rsquo;s last league of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a> due to a hamstring injury, Gill, who was unwell till Wednesday and didn&rsquo;t train with the team, would wear the captain&rsquo;s hat for the first time in this format.
Gill had led India during last year&rsquo;s five T20Is against Zimbabwe, which the Men in Blue won 4-1. However, he has&nbsp; never before got a chance to lead the senior side, let alone in any ICC event.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/peace-at-border-first-step-to-resumption-of-india-pakistan-bilateral-cricket-sunil-gavaskar-8764863" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;Peace at border&rsquo; first step to resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket: Gavaskar</a>
During India&rsquo;s marquee game against Pakistan the past Sunday in Dubai, Rohit felt discomfort (in his hamstring) midway through Pakistani batting, briefly leaving the field for a usual check-up during the 26th over. Though he opened alongside Gill during the chase, scoring 20, including one six and three fours, Rohit opted out of India&rsquo;s first training session ahead of the New Zealand tie.
Rohit watched the scheduled three-hour training session from a distance while conversing with his teammates and head coach Gautam Gambhir, discussing strategies. The only silver lining from his presence in that training was he ran a bit, indicating the injury is not as serious, and that he can return to the XI in time for India&rsquo;s semis clash on Tuesday (Mar 4).&nbsp;
<h2>Who replaces Rohit?</h2>
Should Rohit decide to sit out, India will rope gloveman Rishabh Pant in his place, making him bat in the middle order, with regular keeper KL Rahul returning to the opening slot with Gill.&nbsp;
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will be number three and four, respectively, while the three all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will shuffle given the match conditions.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Washington Sundar is another name discussed to replace Rohit in the playing XI for a dead rubber against the Kiwis. The left-handed Sundar batted for a lengthy period during the nets, something not seen in the tournament training before this.&nbsp;
India could rest Harshit Rana and rope in Arshdeep Singh in the bowling department, while Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav might retain their places.&nbsp;
India&rsquo;s Predicted Playing XI for New Zealand match &ndash;
Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar/Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Gill had led India previously during last year’s five T20Is against Zimbabwe, which the Men in Blue 4-1, but never before he got a chance to lead the senior side.

Ace Indian batter Shubman Gill will make his ODI captaincy debut against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (Mar 2). With reports of regular captain Rohit Sharma skipping India’s last league of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a hamstring injury, Gill, who was unwell till Wednesday and didn’t train with the team, would wear the captain’s hat for the first time in this format. Gill had led India during last year’s five T20Is against Zimbabwe, which the Men in Blue won 4-1. However, he has never before got a chance to lead the senior side, let alone in any ICC event. Also read | ‘Peace at border’ first step to resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket: Gavaskar During India’s marquee game against Pakistan the past Sunday in Dubai, Rohit felt discomfort (in his hamstring) midway through Pakistani batting, briefly leaving the field for a usual check-up during the 26th over. Though he opened alongside Gill during the chase, scoring 20, including one six and three fours, Rohit opted out of India’s first training session ahead of the New Zealand tie. Rohit watched the scheduled three-hour training session from a distance while conversing with his teammates and head coach Gautam Gambhir, discussing strategies. The only silver lining from his presence in that training was he ran a bit, indicating the injury is not as serious, and that he can return to the XI in time for India’s semis clash on Tuesday (Mar 4). Who replaces Rohit? Should Rohit decide to sit out, India will rope gloveman Rishabh Pant in his place, making him bat in the middle order, with regular keeper KL Rahul returning to the opening slot with Gill. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will be number three and four, respectively, while the three all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will shuffle given the match conditions. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar is another name discussed to replace Rohit in the playing XI for a dead rubber against the Kiwis. The left-handed Sundar batted for a lengthy period during the nets, something not seen in the tournament training before this. India could rest Harshit Rana and rope in Arshdeep Singh in the bowling department, while Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav might retain their places. India’s Predicted Playing XI for New Zealand match – Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar/Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav (With inputs from agencies)

Shubman Gill to make ODI captaincy debut against New Zealand in Champions Trophy – Report

India captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma</a> skipped Wednesday&rsquo;s training at the ICC Academy facility in Dubai, and his deputy <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill" rel="dofollow">Shubman Gill</a> was nowhere to be seen during the scheduled three-hour practice session under the lights, per the latest reports. While Rohit is nursing a hamstring injury he suffered during India&rsquo;s marquee clash against Pakistan, Gill was unwell, thus missing India&rsquo;s first training session ahead of the New Zealand tie.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7n80f2u-t7sy1ghs-z9fg0ruh">
📸📸 Prepping 🆙 for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvIND</a> 👌👌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsTrophy</a> <a href="https://t.co/YpL0V6aCKw">pic.twitter.com/YpL0V6aCKw</a>
&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1895052574371520982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
Against Pakistan in India&rsquo;s second league match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which the Men in Blue won by six wickets, Rohit injured his hamstring with the team doctors addressing it briefly during Pakistan's innings. He returned to batting during India&rsquo;s chase, scoring 20 off 15 balls, including three fours and a six. Besides, his opening partner Gill was on song against the arch-rivals, hitting a crucial fifty.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ravi-shastris-advice-for-drowning-england-after-afghanistan-bashing-8761218" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy: Ravi Shastri&rsquo;s advice for drowning England after Afghanistan bashing</a>
Per Cricbuzz, Rohit was present at the venue but just as an onlooker, observing the batters go hard in an intense training session. The report further suggests that Rohit might consider giving the Kiwi game a miss on precautionary grounds to avoid aggravating the injury ahead of crucial knockout games.&nbsp;
With India and New Zealand already qualified for the Champions Trophy semis, with the hosts and defending champions Pakistan and Bangladesh knocked out of the home event, the two teams can afford to rest their key players ahead of their respective semis ties.
<h2>Changes in batting order</h2>
Should Rohit decide against playing the New Zealand match, the management will have to bring in his replacement, and considering the selected 15 had not more than three designated openers, KL Rahul will open with Gill.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/mitchell-starc-reveals-what-led-to-his-absence-from-australias-champions-trophy-squad-8760534" rel="dofollow">Starc reveals what led to his absence from Australia&rsquo;s Champions Trophy squad</a>
With Rahul returning to the top order, he leaves a space vacant in the middle, which the gloveman Rishabh Pant will fill in, playing his maiden Champions Trophy match.&nbsp;
Gill and Rahul will likely open, with Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant comprising the middle order, while Hardik Pandya and the two left-arm all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will take care of the lower middle order.&nbsp;
India could also rest ace seamer Mohammad Shami, who picked a five-for in the side&rsquo;s tournament opener against Bangladesh but was wicketless against Pakistan in the next game.&nbsp;
The team management could field two rookie seamers, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, sharing the new ball, with Pandya coming in as a first change. Frontline spinner Kuldeep Yadav is expected to retain his place.&nbsp;
India will face New Zealand this Sunday (Mar 2) in Dubai.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Rohit could miss New Zealand's Champions Trophy tie on precautionary grounds to avoid aggravating the injury ahead of crucial knockout games.

India captain Rohit Sharma skipped Wednesday’s training at the ICC Academy facility in Dubai, and his deputy Shubman Gill was nowhere to be seen during the scheduled three-hour practice session under the lights, per the latest reports. While Rohit is nursing a hamstring injury he suffered during India’s marquee clash against Pakistan, Gill was unwell, thus missing India’s first training session ahead of the New Zealand tie. 📸📸 Prepping 🆙 for #NZvIND 👌👌#TeamIndia | #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/YpL0V6aCKw — BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2025 Against Pakistan in India’s second league match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which the Men in Blue won by six wickets, Rohit injured his hamstring with the team doctors addressing it briefly during Pakistan's innings. He returned to batting during India’s chase, scoring 20 off 15 balls, including three fours and a six. Besides, his opening partner Gill was on song against the arch-rivals, hitting a crucial fifty. Also read | Champions Trophy: Ravi Shastri’s advice for drowning England after Afghanistan bashing Per Cricbuzz, Rohit was present at the venue but just as an onlooker, observing the batters go hard in an intense training session. The report further suggests that Rohit might consider giving the Kiwi game a miss on precautionary grounds to avoid aggravating the injury ahead of crucial knockout games. With India and New Zealand already qualified for the Champions Trophy semis, with the hosts and defending champions Pakistan and Bangladesh knocked out of the home event, the two teams can afford to rest their key players ahead of their respective semis ties. Changes in batting order Should Rohit decide against playing the New Zealand match, the management will have to bring in his replacement, and considering the selected 15 had not more than three designated openers, KL Rahul will open with Gill. Also read | Starc reveals what led to his absence from Australia’s Champions Trophy squad With Rahul returning to the top order, he leaves a space vacant in the middle, which the gloveman Rishabh Pant will fill in, playing his maiden Champions Trophy match. Gill and Rahul will likely open, with Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant comprising the middle order, while Hardik Pandya and the two left-arm all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will take care of the lower middle order. India could also rest ace seamer Mohammad Shami, who picked a five-for in the side’s tournament opener against Bangladesh but was wicketless against Pakistan in the next game. The team management could field two rookie seamers, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, sharing the new ball, with Pandya coming in as a first change. Frontline spinner Kuldeep Yadav is expected to retain his place. India will face New Zealand this Sunday (Mar 2) in Dubai. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy: Rohit doubtful for New Zealand match; unwell Gill misses training

India&rsquo;s batting maestro Virat Kohli is back into the top five of the ICC Men&rsquo;s ODI batting rankings following his match-winning century against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC&nbsp;Champions Trophy 2025.
Kohli&rsquo;s masterful knock&mdash;his 51st ODI century&mdash;powered India to a commanding victory over their arch-rivals in Dubai, propelling him up one spot to reclaim the fifth position in the rankings.
India now boasts three batters in the top five, with Shubman Gill (1st) and captain Rohit Sharma (3rd) holding their places at the summit. Gill has further extended his lead at No. 1, sitting 47 rating points clear of Pakistan&rsquo;s Babar Azam, who remains in second place despite a subdued tournament so far.
Also Read: Champions Trophy: Gavaskar says Babar can be back to scoring runs if Pak batter makes THIS change
Kohli is the only batter inside the top 10 to make a notable move, but several players have climbed the rankings outside the elite bracket.
New Zealand&rsquo;s Will Young made a significant jump, moving up eight spots to 14th after a string of strong performances. England&rsquo;s Ben Duckett (up 27 places to joint 17th) and New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra (up 18 places to 24th) also made big gains after scoring crucial centuries. India&rsquo;s KL Rahul (up two places to 15th) and South Africa&rsquo;s Rassie van der Dussen (up three places to 16th) edged closer to the top 10 as well.
<h2>Bowlers on the rise</h2>
In the bowling department, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Maheesh Theekshana continues to hold the No. 1 spot despite Sri Lanka's absence from the Champions Trophy. Afghanistan&rsquo;s Rashid Khan remains his closest challenger in second place.
Meanwhile, South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj (up one place to 4th), New Zealand&rsquo;s Matt Henry (up two places to 6th), and Australia&rsquo;s Adam Zampa (up two places to 10th) have all improved their rankings. Proteas pacer Kagiso Rabada (up four spots to 16th) and New Zealand&rsquo;s Michael Bracewell (up 31 places to 26th) were among the biggest gainers.
Bracewell&rsquo;s recent form also saw him climb 26 places to 11th in the all-rounders&rsquo; rankings following his four-wicket haul against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. His teammate Ravindra (up six places to 15th) also made strides in this category. Afghanistan veteran Mohammad Nabi continues to lead the all-rounders&rsquo; rankings.

Cricket, Sports: With this, India now boasts three batters in top five, as opener Shubman Gill (1st) and captain Rohit Sharma (3rd) continue to hold their positions at the summit

India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli is back into the top five of the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings following his match-winning century against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Kohli’s masterful knock—his 51st ODI century—powered India to a commanding victory over their arch-rivals in Dubai, propelling him up one spot to reclaim the fifth position in the rankings. India now boasts three batters in the top five, with Shubman Gill (1st) and captain Rohit Sharma (3rd) holding their places at the summit. Gill has further extended his lead at No. 1, sitting 47 rating points clear of Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who remains in second place despite a subdued tournament so far. Also Read: Champions Trophy: Gavaskar says Babar can be back to scoring runs if Pak batter makes THIS change Kohli is the only batter inside the top 10 to make a notable move, but several players have climbed the rankings outside the elite bracket. New Zealand’s Will Young made a significant jump, moving up eight spots to 14th after a string of strong performances. England’s Ben Duckett (up 27 places to joint 17th) and New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra (up 18 places to 24th) also made big gains after scoring crucial centuries. India’s KL Rahul (up two places to 15th) and South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen (up three places to 16th) edged closer to the top 10 as well. Bowlers on the rise In the bowling department, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana continues to hold the No. 1 spot despite Sri Lanka's absence from the Champions Trophy. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan remains his closest challenger in second place. Meanwhile, South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj (up one place to 4th), New Zealand’s Matt Henry (up two places to 6th), and Australia’s Adam Zampa (up two places to 10th) have all improved their rankings. Proteas pacer Kagiso Rabada (up four spots to 16th) and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell (up 31 places to 26th) were among the biggest gainers. Bracewell’s recent form also saw him climb 26 places to 11th in the all-rounders’ rankings following his four-wicket haul against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. His teammate Ravindra (up six places to 15th) also made strides in this category. Afghanistan veteran Mohammad Nabi continues to lead the all-rounders’ rankings.

ICC rankings: Kohli breaks into top five, Gill remains number one ODI batter

South African batting legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hashim-amla">Hashim Amla</a> has heaped praise on India&rsquo;s young opener, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a>, labelling him as the 'next big thing' in international cricket alongside Rishabh Pant and South Africa&rsquo;s Ryan Rickelton.
Gill, 25, has had a stellar start to his ODI career and was recently named India&rsquo;s vice-captain for the ongoing Champions Trophy. He reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for batters on the tournament's opening day, a position he first achieved in 2023. The dynamic right-hander started his campaign with a match-winning century against Bangladesh and followed it up with a crucial 46 against Pakistan, guiding India to two successive wins.
"For India, you have Shubman Gill, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a> has been around for a while. For South Africa, Ryan Rickelton has been outstanding of late," Amla said. "Every country sees two or three young players rise to prominence every five years, and these names could be the next big stars in international cricket," Amla,&nbsp;currently playing for South Africa Masters in the International Masters League, was quoted saying to PTI.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-aus-vs-sa-match-washed-out-points-shared-8756004">Champions Trophy 2025: AUS vs SA match washed out, points shared</a>
Amla lauded Gill&rsquo;s contributions, particularly his role at the top of the order for India.&nbsp;"He is a brilliant player. The way he has started his ODI career has been exceptional. He has played a crucial role in India's success," Amla said. "Having him alongside Rohit Sharma creates a potent and dangerous opening partnership, and then you have Virat Kohli at No. 3. That&rsquo;s a formidable top order."
Discussing South Africa&rsquo;s prospects in the Champions Trophy, Amla expressed confidence in their batting lineup, particularly their preparation against spin.
"South African batters are well-equipped. The recent tour of Pakistan gave them valuable practice against spin. They&rsquo;ve also had consistent success," he said.
Amla highlighted key players in the Proteas&rsquo; middle order:&nbsp;"You've got Heinrich Klaasen, who has been excellent against spinners. David Miller has been a fantastic finisher, and Aiden Markram is a crucial player in the middle order. Temba Bavuma is solid at the top, and Rickelton has proven himself against spin over the last year and a half."
<h2>'India and SA are strong contenders'&nbsp;</h2>
Amla believes both India and South Africa have strong chances of winning the Champions Trophy.&nbsp;"India has had a fantastic team over the last 15 years, so they obviously have a great chance," he said. "South Africa also looks well-balanced with strong batting and bowling. They have an excellent shot at making the top four and, hopefully, winning the title."
Reflecting on South Africa&rsquo;s recent performances, including their appearances in the T20 World Cup final and the World Test Championship final against Australia, Amla praised the team&rsquo;s resilience.
"Reaching the WTC final was a great achievement. People may talk about different opponents, but South Africa played the teams in their group and performed exceptionally well to get there," he said. "It&rsquo;s going to be a great final. Australia is a competitive team, but in Test cricket, one or two players can turn the game, and South Africa could be champions."

Sports, Cricket: Gill, named India's vice-captain for the Champions Trophy, retook the No. 1 spot in ODI rankings for batters on the opening day of the tournament

South African batting legend Hashim Amla has heaped praise on India’s young opener, Shubman Gill, labelling him as the 'next big thing' in international cricket alongside Rishabh Pant and South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton. Gill, 25, has had a stellar start to his ODI career and was recently named India’s vice-captain for the ongoing Champions Trophy. He reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for batters on the tournament's opening day, a position he first achieved in 2023. The dynamic right-hander started his campaign with a match-winning century against Bangladesh and followed it up with a crucial 46 against Pakistan, guiding India to two successive wins. "For India, you have Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant has been around for a while. For South Africa, Ryan Rickelton has been outstanding of late," Amla said. "Every country sees two or three young players rise to prominence every five years, and these names could be the next big stars in international cricket," Amla, currently playing for South Africa Masters in the International Masters League, was quoted saying to PTI. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: AUS vs SA match washed out, points shared Amla lauded Gill’s contributions, particularly his role at the top of the order for India. "He is a brilliant player. The way he has started his ODI career has been exceptional. He has played a crucial role in India's success," Amla said. "Having him alongside Rohit Sharma creates a potent and dangerous opening partnership, and then you have Virat Kohli at No. 3. That’s a formidable top order." Discussing South Africa’s prospects in the Champions Trophy, Amla expressed confidence in their batting lineup, particularly their preparation against spin. "South African batters are well-equipped. The recent tour of Pakistan gave them valuable practice against spin. They’ve also had consistent success," he said. Amla highlighted key players in the Proteas’ middle order: "You've got Heinrich Klaasen, who has been excellent against spinners. David Miller has been a fantastic finisher, and Aiden Markram is a crucial player in the middle order. Temba Bavuma is solid at the top, and Rickelton has proven himself against spin over the last year and a half." 'India and SA are strong contenders' Amla believes both India and South Africa have strong chances of winning the Champions Trophy. "India has had a fantastic team over the last 15 years, so they obviously have a great chance," he said. "South Africa also looks well-balanced with strong batting and bowling. They have an excellent shot at making the top four and, hopefully, winning the title." Reflecting on South Africa’s recent performances, including their appearances in the T20 World Cup final and the World Test Championship final against Australia, Amla praised the team’s resilience. "Reaching the WTC final was a great achievement. People may talk about different opponents, but South Africa played the teams in their group and performed exceptionally well to get there," he said. "It’s going to be a great final. Australia is a competitive team, but in Test cricket, one or two players can turn the game, and South Africa could be champions."

Champions Trophy 2025: 'Gill is next big thing in international cricket,' feels former SA batting great

Former India batter Shikhar Dhawan, who is also the brand ambassador of the ongoing Champions Trophy, says Shubman Gill will be India's next captain. The statement came after India's six-wicket win against Pakistan on Feb 23 in Dubai, which has almost taken India to the semi-finals.
"Yes, of course, he will become captain. He is vice captain right now, it is pretty obvious that he will be captain some day," Dhawan said while talking to media on the sidelines of the game on Sunday, as reported by news agency PTI.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ind-vs-pak-shreyas-iyer-not-happy-with-india-win-says-if-we-would-have-played-more-8752347">Shreyas Iyer not happy with India's win, says 'if we would have played more...'</a>
Gill has been in superb form lately, scoring 46, 101 not out, 112, 60, and 87 in his last five ODIs. He also added 69 runs for the second wicket with Kohli against Pakistan, which gave the team a platform after skipper Rohit's early wicket.
Gill was also backed by former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar as well.
"Clearly, he's the guy who is going to shoulder the responsibility of the Indian team going forward in years to come," Bangar said on JioHotstar.
<h2>India almost through semi-finals</h2>
India are almost through to the semis after winning both their matches. They will next play New Zealand on March 2. They had won their first match against Bangladesh by six wickets before beating Pakistan by the same margin.
India currently sit at the top of the points table of Group A with four points in two games. They can only miss out on a semis berth if Bangladesh beat New Zealand and Pakistan both, with New Zealand beating India by a huge margin. The scenario is, however, unlikely.
As for hosts Pakistan, they are at the bottom of the Group A points table after losing two consecutive matches. Pakistan now need Bangladesh and India to beat New Zealand as well as beat Bangladesh themselves to have a shot at making it to the semis of the tournament.

India are almost through to the semis after winning both their matches, against Bangladesh and Pakistan by 6 wickets each. They last play New Zealand on March 2. Cricket Sports

Former India batter Shikhar Dhawan, who is also the brand ambassador of the ongoing Champions Trophy, says Shubman Gill will be India's next captain. The statement came after India's six-wicket win against Pakistan on Feb 23 in Dubai, which has almost taken India to the semi-finals. "Yes, of course, he will become captain. He is vice captain right now, it is pretty obvious that he will be captain some day," Dhawan said while talking to media on the sidelines of the game on Sunday, as reported by news agency PTI. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer not happy with India's win, says 'if we would have played more...' Gill has been in superb form lately, scoring 46, 101 not out, 112, 60, and 87 in his last five ODIs. He also added 69 runs for the second wicket with Kohli against Pakistan, which gave the team a platform after skipper Rohit's early wicket. Gill was also backed by former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar as well. "Clearly, he's the guy who is going to shoulder the responsibility of the Indian team going forward in years to come," Bangar said on JioHotstar. India almost through semi-finals India are almost through to the semis after winning both their matches. They will next play New Zealand on March 2. They had won their first match against Bangladesh by six wickets before beating Pakistan by the same margin. India currently sit at the top of the points table of Group A with four points in two games. They can only miss out on a semis berth if Bangladesh beat New Zealand and Pakistan both, with New Zealand beating India by a huge margin. The scenario is, however, unlikely. As for hosts Pakistan, they are at the bottom of the Group A points table after losing two consecutive matches. Pakistan now need Bangladesh and India to beat New Zealand as well as beat Bangladesh themselves to have a shot at making it to the semis of the tournament.

Champions Trophy: Not Pant or Pandya. Shikhar Dhawan shares who is 'obvious' next India captain

India vice-captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> shared his thoughts ahead of the highly anticipated ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, emphasising the importance of a strong total and addressing concerns about Rishabh Pant&rsquo;s health.
Gill believes that a total in excess of 300 would be a 'very good' score considering the conditions in Dubai, especially with no dew expected. "We definitely want to play positive and aggressive cricket. A score of 300-325 will be ideal on this wicket. The team that bats well in the middle overs will have a better chance of winning," he said.
Despite India's dominant record against Pakistan in world events, the match continues to generate significant excitement. India won their tournament opener against Bangladesh, while Pakistan lost to New Zealand, making Sunday's clash a must-win encounter for them.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-pak-live-streaming-free-when-and-where-to-watch-champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-pakistan-live-for-free-online-mobile-and-tv-8747121">Ind vs Pak Live Streaming Free: When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 India vs Pakistan live online</a>
Gill dismissed the impact of the toss, asserting that the team batting second would face more pressure. "Toss won't matter as there is no dew. The team chasing will be under more pressure," said Gill, who scored an unbeaten century against Bangladesh.
<h2>Pant down with viral</h2>
Additionally, Gill revealed that wicketkeeper-batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a> missed the practice session due to a viral fever. "Rishabh is down with viral; that is why he did not come for practice," he said.
As vice-captain, Gill also highlighted his role in keeping the non-playing members of the squad in a positive mindset. "I try to keep players who are not in the playing eleven motivated and ready for their chance. Whenever I notice someone feeling low or lacking confidence, I talk to them and have those conversations," he added.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Sports, Cricket: Gill believes that a total in excess of 300 would be a 'very good' score considering the conditions in Dubai, especially with no dew expected

India vice-captain Shubman Gill shared his thoughts ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, emphasising the importance of a strong total and addressing concerns about Rishabh Pant’s health. Gill believes that a total in excess of 300 would be a 'very good' score considering the conditions in Dubai, especially with no dew expected. "We definitely want to play positive and aggressive cricket. A score of 300-325 will be ideal on this wicket. The team that bats well in the middle overs will have a better chance of winning," he said. Despite India's dominant record against Pakistan in world events, the match continues to generate significant excitement. India won their tournament opener against Bangladesh, while Pakistan lost to New Zealand, making Sunday's clash a must-win encounter for them. Also Read: Ind vs Pak Live Streaming Free: When and where to watch Champions Trophy 2025 India vs Pakistan live online Gill dismissed the impact of the toss, asserting that the team batting second would face more pressure. "Toss won't matter as there is no dew. The team chasing will be under more pressure," said Gill, who scored an unbeaten century against Bangladesh. Pant down with viral Additionally, Gill revealed that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant missed the practice session due to a viral fever. "Rishabh is down with viral; that is why he did not come for practice," he said. As vice-captain, Gill also highlighted his role in keeping the non-playing members of the squad in a positive mindset. "I try to keep players who are not in the playing eleven motivated and ready for their chance. Whenever I notice someone feeling low or lacking confidence, I talk to them and have those conversations," he added. India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy. Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Champions Trophy 2025: India's vice-captain Shubman Gill shares winning score in Dubai

Former Australia captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ricky-ponting" rel="dofollow">Ricky Ponting</a> praised India batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill" rel="dofollow">Shubman Gill</a> for his maiden ICC event hundred against Bangladesh in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy</a> tie in Dubai while commenting on his promotion as the new ranked number one ODI batter. Ponting credited Gill&rsquo;s game plan against Bangladesh, which saw the Men in Blue emerging victorious by six wickets.
Gill was among the two heroes on the day against the Tigers, with seamer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami" rel="dofollow">Mohammed Shami</a> also making headlines for his first five-for of the tournament. The right-handed batter looked composed during his unbeaten 101-run knock in the chase, helping India pocket two crucial points in Group A.&nbsp;
Commenting on him becoming the top batter in the One-Dayers, Ponting said the way he&rsquo;s batting at the moment, Gill deserves to sit on the pedestal.
"He thoroughly deserves to be the number-one-ranked batter in the world at the moment. It's a great sign for India that he's got his account underway early in the first game of a Champions Trophy,&rdquo; Ponting said while speaking to the ICC Review.
Although Gill is yet to prove his mettle in Tests, Ponting feels the two white-ball formats are perfectly suited for his style of play. Punter also remarked on Gill&rsquo;s rise as a big-game player (over the years), crediting his success in the IPL and captaincy experience there for this.
"He's been a very, very good international player for a number of years. He hasn't sort of transferred that over into Test Match cricket yet, but his white-ball cricket over the last three or four years has been outstanding.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Look, he's a big-game player as well. He's played really well in IPLs over the last couple of years, obviously being captain of his franchise there,&rdquo; Ponting continued.
<h2>'He scores at will against pacers'</h2>
Unlike several top-order batters worldwide, Gill takes on the fast bowlers like none other, attacking them for fun. Even against Bangladesh, he stepped out and slammed a few fours to the new ball quicks before impressing everyone by playing his natural game against the spin.&nbsp;
Gill rotated the strike brilliantly while scoring on bad deliveries. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting noted,
&ldquo;He can come out and be nice and aggressive early in the power play with the field up, get some boundaries away early by playing good, naturally aggressive cricketing shots.&nbsp;
"He's not a big hitter, he doesn't try to do anything outside of his natural game, but he scores boundaries almost at will against fast bowling,&rdquo; Ponting added.
Meanwhile, Gill will attract all eyeballs during India&rsquo;s marquee clash against the tournament host and arch-rivals Pakistan in the next match this Sunday (Feb 23) in Dubai.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Gill was among the two heroes on the day against the Tigers, with seamer Mohammed Shami also making headlines for his first five-for of the tournament.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting praised India batter Shubman Gill for his maiden ICC event hundred against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy tie in Dubai while commenting on his promotion as the new ranked number one ODI batter. Ponting credited Gill’s game plan against Bangladesh, which saw the Men in Blue emerging victorious by six wickets. Gill was among the two heroes on the day against the Tigers, with seamer Mohammed Shami also making headlines for his first five-for of the tournament. The right-handed batter looked composed during his unbeaten 101-run knock in the chase, helping India pocket two crucial points in Group A. Commenting on him becoming the top batter in the One-Dayers, Ponting said the way he’s batting at the moment, Gill deserves to sit on the pedestal. "He thoroughly deserves to be the number-one-ranked batter in the world at the moment. It's a great sign for India that he's got his account underway early in the first game of a Champions Trophy,” Ponting said while speaking to the ICC Review. Although Gill is yet to prove his mettle in Tests, Ponting feels the two white-ball formats are perfectly suited for his style of play. Punter also remarked on Gill’s rise as a big-game player (over the years), crediting his success in the IPL and captaincy experience there for this. "He's been a very, very good international player for a number of years. He hasn't sort of transferred that over into Test Match cricket yet, but his white-ball cricket over the last three or four years has been outstanding. “Look, he's a big-game player as well. He's played really well in IPLs over the last couple of years, obviously being captain of his franchise there,” Ponting continued. 'He scores at will against pacers' Unlike several top-order batters worldwide, Gill takes on the fast bowlers like none other, attacking them for fun. Even against Bangladesh, he stepped out and slammed a few fours to the new ball quicks before impressing everyone by playing his natural game against the spin. Gill rotated the strike brilliantly while scoring on bad deliveries. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting noted, “He can come out and be nice and aggressive early in the power play with the field up, get some boundaries away early by playing good, naturally aggressive cricketing shots. "He's not a big hitter, he doesn't try to do anything outside of his natural game, but he scores boundaries almost at will against fast bowling,” Ponting added. Meanwhile, Gill will attract all eyeballs during India’s marquee clash against the tournament host and arch-rivals Pakistan in the next match this Sunday (Feb 23) in Dubai. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025 - ‘Shubman Gill deserves to be number 1 ODI batter,’ says Ricky Ponting

Shubman Gill, even while batting at 60 per cent, is a complete batter, indicating his longevity across all formats; however, Shreyas Iyer isn&rsquo;t there yet, per cricketer-turned-broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar. His remarks have come after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-shubman-gill-rates-dubai-hundred-against-bangladesh-his-most-satisfying-innings-8741418" rel="dofollow">Gill hit his maiden ICC tournament hundred against Bangladesh</a> in India&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> opener in Dubai, helping the Men in Blue win by six wickets.
While Gill, alongside seamer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ind-vs-ban-most-wickets-in-icc-tournament-for-india-shami-60-zaheer-59-srinath-47-jadeja-43-bumrah-42-kumble-42-8740747" rel="dofollow">Mohammed Shami</a>, made headlines for his match-winning performance against the Tigers, Iyer&rsquo;s loose stroke cost him his wicket on 15 (while chasing), disappointing the fans and Manjrekar.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-shubman-gill-hits-his-slowest-odi-ton-but-becomes-fastest-to-8-odi-tons-for-india-8742391" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy: Shubman Gill hits his slowest ton but becomes fastest to 8 ODI hundreds for India</a>
Noting the difference between the two batters, Sanjay said, unlike Iyer, Gill will take the game right till the end and win it for his team; but even though Iyer is as talented as anyone on the side, he doesn&rsquo;t give that impression.
"He [Gill] is batting at the right position to make a huge impact. When he gets a hundred, like today, it seems like there is plenty left in the tank," Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day.&nbsp;
"It was like 60% of Shubman Gill is enough to get a hundred like this and he stays till the end. That is the difference between Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill that Gill will take you right till the end. He is somebody who you think is going to be around for 10-15 years. Shreyas Iyer, despite his obvious talent, doesn't give you that impression,&rdquo; he continued.&nbsp;
Gill scored an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls against Bangladesh, hitting nine fours and two sixes, one of which was hit off pacer Tanzim Hasan in the ninth over, which went straight into the second tier at deep-midwicket.
"Some of the shots he played - the good-length ball he hit, and it went into second tier&hellip; the big game is at his beck and call," Manjrekar said.&nbsp;
"Can he be better in 50-over cricket as a batter? I don't think so, what can be better than this?" Manjrekar noted.
<h2>&lsquo;India is blessed&rsquo;</h2>
While Gill scored quickly inside the Powerplay, hitting 26 off 23 balls, he put brakes on his scoring rate just when Bangladesh introduced the spinners to the attack, completing his fifty in 69 balls &ndash; his slowest ever. The right-handed batter hit odd fours but kept rotating the strike, helping India inch closer to the win. He eventually scored his hundred off 125 balls, his slowest thus far, but his ability to change gears impressed Manjrekar.
"He's got the class to do it [change gears]. India are blessed with [a top three] who are also Test batters, so they can play different gears. Yashasvi Jaiswal, when he comes in eventually, is also a Test batter.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, if the ball is swinging around in overseas conditions, they have the ability to see the new ball through and then handle the various situations. Shubman Gill is that kind of a player; he is not one-dimensional; he has all the gears, and we saw him do that today as well.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He is a guy at the top of his 50-over-cricket prowess, and he does it very calmly. There is an air of dominance and surety with the way he bats and finishes games,&rdquo; Manjrekar added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: While Gill made headlines for his match-winning performance against the Tigers, Iyer’s loose stroke cost him his wicket on 15, disappointing Manjrekar.

Shubman Gill, even while batting at 60 per cent, is a complete batter, indicating his longevity across all formats; however, Shreyas Iyer isn’t there yet, per cricketer-turned-broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar. His remarks have come after Gill hit his maiden ICC tournament hundred against Bangladesh in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 opener in Dubai, helping the Men in Blue win by six wickets. While Gill, alongside seamer Mohammed Shami, made headlines for his match-winning performance against the Tigers, Iyer’s loose stroke cost him his wicket on 15 (while chasing), disappointing the fans and Manjrekar. Also read | Champions Trophy: Shubman Gill hits his slowest ton but becomes fastest to 8 ODI hundreds for India Noting the difference between the two batters, Sanjay said, unlike Iyer, Gill will take the game right till the end and win it for his team; but even though Iyer is as talented as anyone on the side, he doesn’t give that impression. "He [Gill] is batting at the right position to make a huge impact. When he gets a hundred, like today, it seems like there is plenty left in the tank," Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day. "It was like 60% of Shubman Gill is enough to get a hundred like this and he stays till the end. That is the difference between Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill that Gill will take you right till the end. He is somebody who you think is going to be around for 10-15 years. Shreyas Iyer, despite his obvious talent, doesn't give you that impression,” he continued. Gill scored an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls against Bangladesh, hitting nine fours and two sixes, one of which was hit off pacer Tanzim Hasan in the ninth over, which went straight into the second tier at deep-midwicket. "Some of the shots he played - the good-length ball he hit, and it went into second tier… the big game is at his beck and call," Manjrekar said. "Can he be better in 50-over cricket as a batter? I don't think so, what can be better than this?" Manjrekar noted. ‘India is blessed’ While Gill scored quickly inside the Powerplay, hitting 26 off 23 balls, he put brakes on his scoring rate just when Bangladesh introduced the spinners to the attack, completing his fifty in 69 balls – his slowest ever. The right-handed batter hit odd fours but kept rotating the strike, helping India inch closer to the win. He eventually scored his hundred off 125 balls, his slowest thus far, but his ability to change gears impressed Manjrekar. "He's got the class to do it [change gears]. India are blessed with [a top three] who are also Test batters, so they can play different gears. Yashasvi Jaiswal, when he comes in eventually, is also a Test batter. “So, if the ball is swinging around in overseas conditions, they have the ability to see the new ball through and then handle the various situations. Shubman Gill is that kind of a player; he is not one-dimensional; he has all the gears, and we saw him do that today as well. “He is a guy at the top of his 50-over-cricket prowess, and he does it very calmly. There is an air of dominance and surety with the way he bats and finishes games,” Manjrekar added. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: ‘Gill is here to stay for long but not Iyer,’ Manjrekar’s assessment of Indian stars

India vice-captain Shubman Gill continued his sublime form as he scored his second consecutive ton and eighth overall to take the team home against Bangladesh in Champions Trophy on Feb 20 in Dubai. Gill is now fastest to eight ODI tons for India, taking as many as 60 innings less than Sachin Tendulkar. Before Gill, the same record rested with Shikhar Dhawan who had reached the milestone in 57 innings.
<h2>List of Players Fastest to 8 ODI Tons for India</h2>
<ul>
<li>Shubman Gill - 51 innings</li>
<li>Shikhar Dhawan - 57 innings</li>
<li>Virat Kohli - 68 innings</li>
<li>Gautam Gambhir - 98 innings</li>
<li>Sachin Tendulkar - 111 innings</li>
</ul>
Gill reached his hundred off 125 balls - the slowest for India in ODIs since 2012. Before him, Sachin's 138-ball hundred against Bangladesh was the slowest for India in 2010.
Champions Trophy, IND vs BAN: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ind-vs-ban-india-batter-virat-kohli-failed-with-bat-but-still-created-a-record-most-catches-for-india-in-odis-kohli-156-azhar-156-8742142">India batter Virat Kohli failed with bat but still creates a record</a>
This was also Gill's fourth consecutive fifty-plus score in ODI. Ahead of the match against Bangladesh, the Indian batter scored 87, 60 and 112 in three ODIs against England. Gill eventually finished at 101 not out.
<h2>India beat Bangladesh by six wickets</h2>
India won their opening match of the Champions Trophy by six wickets. For Men in Blue, Mohammed Shami starred with the ball as he took 5/53 and played a key role in bowling out the opposition for 228.
On the way to his five-for, Shami also became the fastest to take 200 ODI wickets in terms of number of balls bowled and second fastest in terms of number of games played.
Chasing the total, India skipper Rohit Sharma gave the team a quick start and added 50 plus for the opening wicket with Shubman Gill. After Rohit got out for a quickfire 41 and Kohli was dismissed shortly, Gill took over the innings and stayed unbeaten throughout.
India next play Pakistan in a blockbuster clash on Sunday (Feb 23) in Dubai.

Champions Trophy, IND vs BAN: Shubman Gill is now fastest to eight ODI tons for India, taking as many as 60 innings less than Sachin Tendulkar.  Cricket Sports

India vice-captain Shubman Gill continued his sublime form as he scored his second consecutive ton and eighth overall to take the team home against Bangladesh in Champions Trophy on Feb 20 in Dubai. Gill is now fastest to eight ODI tons for India, taking as many as 60 innings less than Sachin Tendulkar. Before Gill, the same record rested with Shikhar Dhawan who had reached the milestone in 57 innings. List of Players Fastest to 8 ODI Tons for India Shubman Gill - 51 innings Shikhar Dhawan - 57 innings Virat Kohli - 68 innings Gautam Gambhir - 98 innings Sachin Tendulkar - 111 innings Gill reached his hundred off 125 balls - the slowest for India in ODIs since 2012. Before him, Sachin's 138-ball hundred against Bangladesh was the slowest for India in 2010. Champions Trophy, IND vs BAN: India batter Virat Kohli failed with bat but still creates a record This was also Gill's fourth consecutive fifty-plus score in ODI. Ahead of the match against Bangladesh, the Indian batter scored 87, 60 and 112 in three ODIs against England. Gill eventually finished at 101 not out. India beat Bangladesh by six wickets India won their opening match of the Champions Trophy by six wickets. For Men in Blue, Mohammed Shami starred with the ball as he took 5/53 and played a key role in bowling out the opposition for 228. On the way to his five-for, Shami also became the fastest to take 200 ODI wickets in terms of number of balls bowled and second fastest in terms of number of games played. Chasing the total, India skipper Rohit Sharma gave the team a quick start and added 50 plus for the opening wicket with Shubman Gill. After Rohit got out for a quickfire 41 and Kohli was dismissed shortly, Gill took over the innings and stayed unbeaten throughout. India next play Pakistan in a blockbuster clash on Sunday (Feb 23) in Dubai.

Champions Trophy: Shubman Gill hits his slowest ton but becomes fastest to 8 ODI hundreds for India

Shubman Gill smashed an unbeaten 101 as India defeated Bangladesh by six wickets in their ICC Champions Trophy opener in Dubai. Earlier, Mohammed Shami’s 5/53 helped India bowl out Bangladesh for 228. Watch in for more details!

Champions Trophy: Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami star in India's win over Bangladesh

Shubman Gill is back, and back with a bang.
Following a series of mediocre scores against New Zealand and Australia in Tests earlier, Gill grinds hard in the domestic to return to top form in the white-ball format. The right-handed batter was the star of the day alongside seamer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-india-pacer-mohammed-shami-becomes-fastest-to-take-200-odi-wickets-ind-vs-bangladesh-8740336" rel="dofollow">Mohammed Shami (who picked a five-for)</a>, scoring his maiden ICC tournament hundred and calling it his &lsquo;most satisfying innings&rsquo; to date. As a result, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-ban-live-score-updates-champions-trophy-2025-ball-by-ball-updates-and-full-scorecard-india-vs-bangladesh-dubai-international-cricket-stadium-8738242" rel="dofollow">India beat Bangladesh by six wickets</a> in their tournament opener in Dubai.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-bangladeshs-towhid-hridoy-beats-heat-cramps-to-notch-up-brilliant-hundred-against-india-8740585" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh&rsquo;s Hridoy beats heat, cramps to hit maiden ODI ton against India</a>
Opening alongside the skipper Rohit Sharma, who created history by becoming the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-rohit-sharma-becomes-second-quickest-batter-to-11000-odi-runs-virat-kohli-india-bangladesh-dubai-8741096" rel="dofollow">second quickest batter to 11,000 ODI runs</a> (after Virat Kohli) in 261 innings, Gill launched from the word go, keeping Bangladesh seamers quiet in the Powerplay.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7dlb35q-6i0udwtk-wkqm2fzp">
9️⃣8️⃣metres 😲 A breathtaking six from Shubman Gill. Watch LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StarSportsIndia</a> in India. Here's how to watch LIVE wherever you are 👉 <a href="https://t.co/AIBA0YZyiZ">https://t.co/AIBA0YZyiZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/LgIK5AjixQ">pic.twitter.com/LgIK5AjixQ</a>
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1892580736890184018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
Though India lost Sharma inside the first ten overs, with the middle order also failing to click, including Virat Kohli (22), Shreyas Iyer (15), and floater Axar Patel (8), Gill stood his ground, playing a mature knock to see his team home.&nbsp;
The ODI vice-captain attacked the pacers, slamming a huge six and boundaries earlier, but what stood out was his game and gap-finding and single-taking abilities (in the middle overs), which helped India stay on track for an easy win.
&ldquo;Definitely one of my most satisfying innings that I have played and my first century in ICC events,&rdquo; Gill said at the post-match presser. &ldquo;Very satisfying and very happy with the way I performed. When me and Rohit bhai went out there, we thought cutting the ball wasn't easy because the balls which were outside the off-stump weren't coming onto the bat that nicely.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, I thought of using my feet to even the fast bowlers and tried to go over the circle,&rdquo; Gill explained his game plan against the seamers.
<h2>Tackling spinners is an art</h2>
While Kohli and Axar fell prey to Rishad Hossain&rsquo;s leg spin, Gill took his time to score against the spinners. Explaining further how he and Virat talked through trying to score runs against them, Gill said,&nbsp;
&ldquo;When the spinners came on, me and Virat bhai were talking in the middle that it's not easy to score singles off the front foot, so we'll try to score singles off the back foot. And it's not easy to hit down the ground, so we just keep rotating the strike. At one point, there was a bit of pressure on us.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;The message was sent from outside that I have to try to bat till the end, and that's what I tried to do. (On his two sixes) The first one gave me a lot of confidence, and the second one helped me come closer to my hundred, so both were very satisfying,&rdquo; he continued.
Gill won the Player of the Match award for his magnificent match-winning hundred.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls against Bangladesh, hitting nine fours and two sixes in his match-winning knock for India.

Shubman Gill is back, and back with a bang. Following a series of mediocre scores against New Zealand and Australia in Tests earlier, Gill grinds hard in the domestic to return to top form in the white-ball format. The right-handed batter was the star of the day alongside seamer Mohammed Shami (who picked a five-for), scoring his maiden ICC tournament hundred and calling it his ‘most satisfying innings’ to date. As a result, India beat Bangladesh by six wickets in their tournament opener in Dubai. Also read | Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh’s Hridoy beats heat, cramps to hit maiden ODI ton against India Opening alongside the skipper Rohit Sharma, who created history by becoming the second quickest batter to 11,000 ODI runs (after Virat Kohli) in 261 innings, Gill launched from the word go, keeping Bangladesh seamers quiet in the Powerplay. 9️⃣8️⃣metres 😲 A breathtaking six from Shubman Gill. Watch LIVE on @StarSportsIndia in India. Here's how to watch LIVE wherever you are 👉 https://t.co/AIBA0YZyiZ pic.twitter.com/LgIK5AjixQ — ICC (@ICC) February 20, 2025 Though India lost Sharma inside the first ten overs, with the middle order also failing to click, including Virat Kohli (22), Shreyas Iyer (15), and floater Axar Patel (8), Gill stood his ground, playing a mature knock to see his team home. The ODI vice-captain attacked the pacers, slamming a huge six and boundaries earlier, but what stood out was his game and gap-finding and single-taking abilities (in the middle overs), which helped India stay on track for an easy win. “Definitely one of my most satisfying innings that I have played and my first century in ICC events,” Gill said at the post-match presser. “Very satisfying and very happy with the way I performed. When me and Rohit bhai went out there, we thought cutting the ball wasn't easy because the balls which were outside the off-stump weren't coming onto the bat that nicely.” “So, I thought of using my feet to even the fast bowlers and tried to go over the circle,” Gill explained his game plan against the seamers. Tackling spinners is an art While Kohli and Axar fell prey to Rishad Hossain’s leg spin, Gill took his time to score against the spinners. Explaining further how he and Virat talked through trying to score runs against them, Gill said, “When the spinners came on, me and Virat bhai were talking in the middle that it's not easy to score singles off the front foot, so we'll try to score singles off the back foot. And it's not easy to hit down the ground, so we just keep rotating the strike. At one point, there was a bit of pressure on us.” “The message was sent from outside that I have to try to bat till the end, and that's what I tried to do. (On his two sixes) The first one gave me a lot of confidence, and the second one helped me come closer to my hundred, so both were very satisfying,” he continued. Gill won the Player of the Match award for his magnificent match-winning hundred. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: Gill rates Dubai hundred against Bangladesh ‘his most satisfying innings’

Indian opening batsman Shubman Gill become the new world No. 1 ODI batter, days ahead of their teams facing off in a much-awaited clash in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025.

Shubman Gill claims world no. 1 ODI batsman spot ahead of champions trophy 2025

India&rsquo;s star opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> has risen to the top of the ICC Men&rsquo;s ODI batting rankings, overtaking Pakistan&rsquo;s Babar Azam just ahead of the ICC Men&rsquo;s Champions Trophy 2025. In the latest weekly rankings update, released on Wednesday (Feb 19), Gill&rsquo;s remarkable 112 from 102 balls against England in the third ODI in Ahmedabad helped him gain 23 rating points, taking his tally to 796&mdash;ahead of Babar Azam.&nbsp;
This marks Gill&rsquo;s return to the top spot, which he first claimed in November 2023 during the ICC Men&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup. His consistent form has given India a strong edge going into the eight-team tournament, with four Indian batters now featuring in the top 10. Captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a> is in third position, Virat Kohli remains steady in sixth, and Shreyas Iyer, after a solid knock of 78 in the same match against England, has moved up one slot to ninth.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ex-pakistan-spinner-calls-for-teaching-bcci-a-lesson-over-tantrums-8735569">Champions Trophy: Ex-Pakistan spinner calls for 'teaching BCCI a lesson' over tantrums</a>
Meanwhile, Pakistan&rsquo;s skipper Mohammad Rizwan has climbed six places to 15th after impressive performances in the Tri-Nation series at home, where he scored 122 not out against South Africa and 46 in the final against New Zealand.
His teammate Salman Agha, named player of the series, made a massive leap of 24 places to 48th after scoring 134 against South Africa and 45 in the final. Several other players made notable gains in the latest update, with South Africa&rsquo;s Heinrich Klaasen rising to fourth, New Zealand&rsquo;s Daryl Mitchell up to fifth, and solid progress from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/aiden-markram">Aiden Markram</a>, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Tom Latham.
<h2>'Theekshana is top-ranked bowler'</h2>
Meanwhile, in the bowling rankings, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s mystery spinner Mahesh Theekshana has secured the top spot, displacing Afghanistan&rsquo;s Rashid Khan. South Africa&rsquo;s Keshav Maharaj has returned to the rankings in sixth position, while New Zealand spinner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-santner">Mitchell Santner</a> (up to seventh) and England&rsquo;s Adil Rashid (up to 22nd) have also made significant progress. Besides this, Pakistan&rsquo;s pace sensation, Naseem Shah, has progressed from 48th to 45th in the bowling rankings.

Cricket, Sports: Gill’s 112 off 102 balls against England in the third ODI in Ahmedabad put him 23 rating points ahead of Babar with an aggregate of 796 points

India’s star opener Shubman Gill has risen to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, overtaking Pakistan’s Babar Azam just ahead of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. In the latest weekly rankings update, released on Wednesday (Feb 19), Gill’s remarkable 112 from 102 balls against England in the third ODI in Ahmedabad helped him gain 23 rating points, taking his tally to 796—ahead of Babar Azam. This marks Gill’s return to the top spot, which he first claimed in November 2023 during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. His consistent form has given India a strong edge going into the eight-team tournament, with four Indian batters now featuring in the top 10. Captain Rohit Sharma is in third position, Virat Kohli remains steady in sixth, and Shreyas Iyer, after a solid knock of 78 in the same match against England, has moved up one slot to ninth. Also Read: Champions Trophy: Ex-Pakistan spinner calls for 'teaching BCCI a lesson' over tantrums Meanwhile, Pakistan’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan has climbed six places to 15th after impressive performances in the Tri-Nation series at home, where he scored 122 not out against South Africa and 46 in the final against New Zealand. His teammate Salman Agha, named player of the series, made a massive leap of 24 places to 48th after scoring 134 against South Africa and 45 in the final. Several other players made notable gains in the latest update, with South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen rising to fourth, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell up to fifth, and solid progress from Aiden Markram, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Tom Latham. 'Theekshana is top-ranked bowler' Meanwhile, in the bowling rankings, Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Mahesh Theekshana has secured the top spot, displacing Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj has returned to the rankings in sixth position, while New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner (up to seventh) and England’s Adil Rashid (up to 22nd) have also made significant progress. Besides this, Pakistan’s pace sensation, Naseem Shah, has progressed from 48th to 45th in the bowling rankings.

Champions Trophy 2025: Gill overtakes Babar as top ODI batter in latest ICC rankings

India head coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gautam-gambhir">Gautam Gambhir</a> praised batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> after whitewashing England 3-0 in the ODI series with win in the third ODI on Feb 12. Gill had a wonderful series as a batter - scoring 259 runs in three innings at an average of 86.33. The batter went past fifty in each of the three matches including a hundred in the last ODI in Ahmedabad.
<h2>Gambhir backs Gill</h2>
"Look, the problem is that we keep judging people after every inning. He's still a young batter. He's still 25. He's got a great future ahead of him," said Gambhir at the post-match presentation on Wednesday. Gambhir's comments came on Gill's poor form on Australia Test tour like most of the batters.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kevin-pietersen-gobsmacked-after-england-surrender-odi-series-3-0-says-im-sorry-but-i-am-absolutely-8715941">Kevin Pietersen gobsmacked after England surrender ODI series 3-0, says 'I&rsquo;m sorry, but I am absolutely...'</a>
"If he's been consistent in one format, Test cricket is tough, and he's shown that he belongs to that format as well. I hope that going forward, he can actually deliver in that format too. If someone can do it in 50-over cricket, why can't he do it in Test cricket as well? He's played some really good innings in the Test format," he said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-3rd-odi-india-batter-shubman-gill-becomes-fastest-to-score-2500-odi-runs-in-50-odi-innings-8714190">Gill surpasses SA's Hashim Amla to become fastest to score 2500 ODI runs</a>
"By judging a young cricketer after every inning, we're not going to carry Indian cricket forward like that. You've got to start putting trust in these young players. He's still 25. So, imagine what can happen in the next couple of years if we keep backing him and keep backing a lot of young cricketers in that dressing room. So, that is something we need to be clear about," Gambhir added.
India now turn their focus on Champions Trophy which begins February 19 in Pakistan. The Men In Blue, however, start their campaign on February 20 in Dubai, UAE. After facing Bangladesh in the first match, India face arch-rivals Pakistan on Feb 23 and New Zealand on March 2 in the last group-stage match.

IND vs ENG: Gill had a wonderful series as a batter - scoring 259 runs in three innings at an average of 86.33. The batter went past fifty in each of the three matches including a hundred. Cricket Sports

India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised batter Shubman Gill after whitewashing England 3-0 in the ODI series with win in the third ODI on Feb 12. Gill had a wonderful series as a batter - scoring 259 runs in three innings at an average of 86.33. The batter went past fifty in each of the three matches including a hundred in the last ODI in Ahmedabad. Gambhir backs Gill "Look, the problem is that we keep judging people after every inning. He's still a young batter. He's still 25. He's got a great future ahead of him," said Gambhir at the post-match presentation on Wednesday. Gambhir's comments came on Gill's poor form on Australia Test tour like most of the batters. Also Read: Kevin Pietersen gobsmacked after England surrender ODI series 3-0, says 'I’m sorry, but I am absolutely...' "If he's been consistent in one format, Test cricket is tough, and he's shown that he belongs to that format as well. I hope that going forward, he can actually deliver in that format too. If someone can do it in 50-over cricket, why can't he do it in Test cricket as well? He's played some really good innings in the Test format," he said. Also Read: Gill surpasses SA's Hashim Amla to become fastest to score 2500 ODI runs "By judging a young cricketer after every inning, we're not going to carry Indian cricket forward like that. You've got to start putting trust in these young players. He's still 25. So, imagine what can happen in the next couple of years if we keep backing him and keep backing a lot of young cricketers in that dressing room. So, that is something we need to be clear about," Gambhir added. India now turn their focus on Champions Trophy which begins February 19 in Pakistan. The Men In Blue, however, start their campaign on February 20 in Dubai, UAE. After facing Bangladesh in the first match, India face arch-rivals Pakistan on Feb 23 and New Zealand on March 2 in the last group-stage match.

'Why can't he...,' India coach Gambhir backs Gill to come good in Tests after stellar ODIs vs ENG

India batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> created history on Wednesday (Feb 12) during the third <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ind-vs-eng">IND vs England</a> ODI in Ahmedabad. The batter scored 112 runs after coming in as an opener and became the fastest to score 2500 ODI runs in the history. Gill reached the milestone in his 50th ODI innings - surpassing former South African batter Hashim Amla who previously held the record of scoring fastest 2500 runs in 51 innings.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Stat Alert - Shubman Gill is now the fastest batter to 2500 runs in ODIs 💪💪 He gets to the mark in his 50th innings. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ShubmanGill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShubmanGill</a> <a href="https://t.co/SJQ0Al7MUx">pic.twitter.com/SJQ0Al7MUx</a>
&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1889598943417237627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gill also became the first Indian batter to score a hundred in his 50th ODI. The batter had been in a great form - scoring 86 runs in the first ODI in Nagpur and following it up with 60 in the second ODI in Cuttack. In Ahmedabad, Gill eventually got out after scoring 112 runs 102 balls - hitting 14 fours and three sixes in his innings.
<h2>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/india-vs-england-3rd-odi-live-score-check-ind-vs-eng-3rd-odi-match-today-live-cricket-score-and-updates-live-streaming-8713108">Check India vs England 3rd ODI live score and updates</a></h2>
Asked to bat first after losing the toss, India had a horrible start when skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the second over for just 1 run. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> then came to bat and added 116 runs for the second wicket.
Kohli was dismissed by Adil Rashid in the 19th over but not before the batter scored a fifty. Kohli managed 52 off 55 in an innings packed with seven fours and a six.
After Kohli's dismissal, Shreyas Iyer joined Gill at the crease, and the duo added 104 runs for the third wicket in just 15.3 overs. India eventually finished with 356 in 50 overs and won the match by 142 runs after bowling out England for just 214 runs.

Cricket | Sports: IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: Gill reached the milestone in his 50th ODI innings - surpassing former South African batter Hashim Amla who took 51 innings to reach the same record.

India batter Shubman Gill created history on Wednesday (Feb 12) during the third IND vs England ODI in Ahmedabad. The batter scored 112 runs after coming in as an opener and became the fastest to score 2500 ODI runs in the history. Gill reached the milestone in his 50th ODI innings - surpassing former South African batter Hashim Amla who previously held the record of scoring fastest 2500 runs in 51 innings. Stat Alert - Shubman Gill is now the fastest batter to 2500 runs in ODIs 💪💪 He gets to the mark in his 50th innings. #TeamIndia | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/SJQ0Al7MUx — BCCI (@BCCI) February 12, 2025 Gill also became the first Indian batter to score a hundred in his 50th ODI. The batter had been in a great form - scoring 86 runs in the first ODI in Nagpur and following it up with 60 in the second ODI in Cuttack. In Ahmedabad, Gill eventually got out after scoring 112 runs 102 balls - hitting 14 fours and three sixes in his innings. Also Read: Check India vs England 3rd ODI live score and updates Asked to bat first after losing the toss, India had a horrible start when skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the second over for just 1 run. Virat Kohli then came to bat and added 116 runs for the second wicket. Kohli was dismissed by Adil Rashid in the 19th over but not before the batter scored a fifty. Kohli managed 52 off 55 in an innings packed with seven fours and a six. After Kohli's dismissal, Shreyas Iyer joined Gill at the crease, and the duo added 104 runs for the third wicket in just 15.3 overs. India eventually finished with 356 in 50 overs and won the match by 142 runs after bowling out England for just 214 runs.

IND vs ENG 3rd ODI: India batter Shubman Gill surpasses SA's Hashim Amla to become fastest to score 2500 ODI runs

Under pressure from questions about his form and mounting retirement speculations, Indian skipper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a> silenced critics with a vintage century, guiding India to a commanding four-wicket victory over England in the second ODI on Sunday (Feb 9). The win secured the series for India with an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of the final match in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Opting to bat first on a batting-friendly surface, England were bowled out for 304 in 49.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3/35) continued his dominance over the visitors, picking up crucial wickets to stall their momentum.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/smiths-revival-how-a-gabba-ton-against-india-sparked-his-test-cricket-resurgence-8705255">Smith&rsquo;s revival: How Gabba ton against India sparked his Test cricket resurgence</a> The 37-year-old Indian skipper made the chase look effortless, returning to his World Cup 2023 best with impeccable timing and graceful strokeplay. His 90-ball 119, featuring seven sixes and 12 fours, marked his 32nd ODI century and came at a crucial time with the Champions Trophy less than two weeks away.
Rohit&rsquo;s masterclass set the foundation for India&rsquo;s chase as they reached the target in 44.3 overs. Shubman Gill provided solid support with a fluent 60 off 52 balls (9x4, 1x6) in a 136-run opening stand, their sixth century partnership together.
Virat Kohli, returning from a knee injury, fell cheaply for 5, edging an Adil Rashid leg-break. Rashid has now dismissed Kohli four times in ODIs. Rohit then built a 70-run stand with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> (44) before miscuing a full toss, with Rashid taking a fine running catch. Iyer was later run out, while KL Rahul (10) and Hardik Pandya (10) also failed to convert starts.
However, with no run-rate pressure, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/axar-patel">Axar Patel</a> (41 not out) and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ravindra-jadeja">Jadeja</a> (11 not out) ensured a smooth finish, sealing the win with 33 balls to spare.
<h2>Rohit surpasses Rahul Dravid</h2>
Rohit&rsquo;s knock also saw him surpass Rahul Dravid (10,889 runs) to enter the top-10 list of ODI run-scorers. He now requires just 13 runs to reach 11,000 ODI runs. His innings featured exquisite pull shots, stylish cuts, and even a reverse sweep off Rashid, underscoring his dominance.
Setting the tone early, Rohit charged down to Gus Atkinson for a boundary before flicking a six over mid-wicket with signature elegance. Against Saqib Mahmood, he displayed finesse with a lofted six over cover. A 35-minute floodlight failure at 29 did not disrupt his momentum; he resumed with the same intensity, dispatching Mahmood and Mark Wood&rsquo;s deliveries with precision.
Luck also played its part&mdash;on 36, he survived an LBW call against Wood on the umpire&rsquo;s call. Responding in style, he sent the next ball over mid-on for a six. His fifty came off 30 balls, and he reached his hundred in just 76 deliveries, his second-fastest in ODIs after a 63-ball century against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup.
Earlier, Jadeja&rsquo;s 3/35 proved instrumental in restricting England to 304. He dismissed Ben Duckett (65 off 56 balls) and Joe Root (69 off 72 balls) just when England looked set for a 330-plus total. At 200/3 in 35 overs, England were in a strong position, but Jadeja&rsquo;s disciplined bowling curbed their momentum.
England&rsquo;s total would have been lower if not for Liam Livingstone&rsquo;s brisk 41 off 32 balls (2x4, 2x6) and Adil Rashid&rsquo;s quick 14 off five balls, which included three consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Shami. However, three late run-outs in the final overs saw them bowled out with one ball to spare&mdash;304 being the lowest total at Barabati Stadium since 2011, where 350-plus scores have been the norm.
Jadeja&rsquo;s tactical brilliance was evident as he outfoxed Duckett with a widish delivery, luring him into a miscue to mid-on. He then removed Root for the fifth time in ODIs, enticing him into a lofted shot that landed straight into Kohli&rsquo;s hands at deep extra cover. His final wicket came with the dismissal of Jamie Overton, who skied a catch to Gill at cover.
Shubman Gill was outstanding in the field, taking three catches. While India had some lapses, including burning two reviews against Root off debutant mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy (1/54), they controlled the innings well.
Harshit Rana (1/62 in 9 overs) was expensive, conceding 14 runs in two overs as Duckett capitalized on his pace. Despite some costly overs, India&rsquo;s bowlers ensured England fell short of an imposing total.
With a series-clinching victory and Rohit&rsquo;s return to form, India will look to carry this momentum into the final ODI and beyond into the Champions Trophy.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Rohit, who struck his 32nd hundred in ODIs, helped India chase down the target of 305. This is India's seventh successive bilateral ODI series win against England

Under pressure from questions about his form and mounting retirement speculations, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma silenced critics with a vintage century, guiding India to a commanding four-wicket victory over England in the second ODI on Sunday (Feb 9). The win secured the series for India with an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of the final match in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Opting to bat first on a batting-friendly surface, England were bowled out for 304 in 49.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3/35) continued his dominance over the visitors, picking up crucial wickets to stall their momentum. Also Read: Smith’s revival: How Gabba ton against India sparked his Test cricket resurgence The 37-year-old Indian skipper made the chase look effortless, returning to his World Cup 2023 best with impeccable timing and graceful strokeplay. His 90-ball 119, featuring seven sixes and 12 fours, marked his 32nd ODI century and came at a crucial time with the Champions Trophy less than two weeks away. Rohit’s masterclass set the foundation for India’s chase as they reached the target in 44.3 overs. Shubman Gill provided solid support with a fluent 60 off 52 balls (9x4, 1x6) in a 136-run opening stand, their sixth century partnership together. Virat Kohli, returning from a knee injury, fell cheaply for 5, edging an Adil Rashid leg-break. Rashid has now dismissed Kohli four times in ODIs. Rohit then built a 70-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (44) before miscuing a full toss, with Rashid taking a fine running catch. Iyer was later run out, while KL Rahul (10) and Hardik Pandya (10) also failed to convert starts. However, with no run-rate pressure, Axar Patel (41 not out) and Jadeja (11 not out) ensured a smooth finish, sealing the win with 33 balls to spare. Rohit surpasses Rahul Dravid Rohit’s knock also saw him surpass Rahul Dravid (10,889 runs) to enter the top-10 list of ODI run-scorers. He now requires just 13 runs to reach 11,000 ODI runs. His innings featured exquisite pull shots, stylish cuts, and even a reverse sweep off Rashid, underscoring his dominance. Setting the tone early, Rohit charged down to Gus Atkinson for a boundary before flicking a six over mid-wicket with signature elegance. Against Saqib Mahmood, he displayed finesse with a lofted six over cover. A 35-minute floodlight failure at 29 did not disrupt his momentum; he resumed with the same intensity, dispatching Mahmood and Mark Wood’s deliveries with precision. Luck also played its part—on 36, he survived an LBW call against Wood on the umpire’s call. Responding in style, he sent the next ball over mid-on for a six. His fifty came off 30 balls, and he reached his hundred in just 76 deliveries, his second-fastest in ODIs after a 63-ball century against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup. Earlier, Jadeja’s 3/35 proved instrumental in restricting England to 304. He dismissed Ben Duckett (65 off 56 balls) and Joe Root (69 off 72 balls) just when England looked set for a 330-plus total. At 200/3 in 35 overs, England were in a strong position, but Jadeja’s disciplined bowling curbed their momentum. England’s total would have been lower if not for Liam Livingstone’s brisk 41 off 32 balls (2x4, 2x6) and Adil Rashid’s quick 14 off five balls, which included three consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Shami. However, three late run-outs in the final overs saw them bowled out with one ball to spare—304 being the lowest total at Barabati Stadium since 2011, where 350-plus scores have been the norm. Jadeja’s tactical brilliance was evident as he outfoxed Duckett with a widish delivery, luring him into a miscue to mid-on. He then removed Root for the fifth time in ODIs, enticing him into a lofted shot that landed straight into Kohli’s hands at deep extra cover. His final wicket came with the dismissal of Jamie Overton, who skied a catch to Gill at cover. Shubman Gill was outstanding in the field, taking three catches. While India had some lapses, including burning two reviews against Root off debutant mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy (1/54), they controlled the innings well. Harshit Rana (1/62 in 9 overs) was expensive, conceding 14 runs in two overs as Duckett capitalized on his pace. Despite some costly overs, India’s bowlers ensured England fell short of an imposing total. With a series-clinching victory and Rohit’s return to form, India will look to carry this momentum into the final ODI and beyond into the Champions Trophy. (With inputs from agencies)

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI: Rohit's dazzling ton guides hosts to four-wicket win; seal series 2-0

The 2nd ODI between India and England was interrupted due to a technical issue with one of the floodlights at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha. With India chasing a target of 305, Indian openers <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> gave India a steady start, with skipper Rohit hitting some big shots right from the beginning of the powerplay.
The 7th over brought the interruption as one of the floodlights started flickering and then went completely off. While the technicians seemed to have fixed it at one point, the flickering started again and saw the players leaving the field after 6.1 overs with India 48 for no loss at the moment.
India were chasing a target of 305 runs.
Recently, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, acting president of Odisha Cricket Association, spoke about renovating the Barabati Stadium and revealed that the cricketing body was in talks with the government for the same.
&ldquo;It was supposed to get renovated, this is a very old stadium. We have all the facilities and have made partial renovations, as you can see. We have been in talks with the government,&rdquo; Mohanty was quoted to the Indian Express.
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&ldquo;With the government changing in 2024, the OCA is continuing their talks with the new government for support. &ldquo;Without government funding, we cannot do a complete overhaul. BCCI will support with their infrastructure fund, but we need government support. The new government, they are also keen to develop. They wanted to build another stadium,&rdquo; added Mohanty.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: The players walked off field after a long delay due to a floodlight failure. The players waited for long before it was decided that players should return to dugout

The 2nd ODI between India and England was interrupted due to a technical issue with one of the floodlights at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha. With India chasing a target of 305, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a steady start, with skipper Rohit hitting some big shots right from the beginning of the powerplay. The 7th over brought the interruption as one of the floodlights started flickering and then went completely off. While the technicians seemed to have fixed it at one point, the flickering started again and saw the players leaving the field after 6.1 overs with India 48 for no loss at the moment. India were chasing a target of 305 runs. Recently, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, acting president of Odisha Cricket Association, spoke about renovating the Barabati Stadium and revealed that the cricketing body was in talks with the government for the same. “It was supposed to get renovated, this is a very old stadium. We have all the facilities and have made partial renovations, as you can see. We have been in talks with the government,” Mohanty was quoted to the Indian Express. “With the government changing in 2024, the OCA is continuing their talks with the new government for support. “Without government funding, we cannot do a complete overhaul. BCCI will support with their infrastructure fund, but we need government support. The new government, they are also keen to develop. They wanted to build another stadium,” added Mohanty. (With inputs from agencies)

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI: Floodlight failure halts match, players walk off the field after long delay

Former Indian batting coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanjay-bangar">Sanjay Bangar</a> recently shared a memorable recollection of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a>&rsquo;s first-ever net session with the Indian senior team, highlighting the opener&rsquo;s impressive display against throwdown specialists that caught the attention of coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ravi-shastri">Ravi Shastri</a>. Bangar spoke about how Gill&rsquo;s performance during the session was so striking that Shastri immediately recognised his potential.
See the video here:
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In a video shared by Star Sports on their official X handle, Bangar said, &ldquo;The first glimpse of Shubman Gill we had during his first net session for India, there is a tradition in India that during the nets session, if you want that approval, you will have to do well against throwdown specialists, who bowl really fast. And unhone uss nets session mein, jo ek screen test hota haina, aise patakhe bajaye the (during that session, which is a screen test of sorts, he produced such incredible shots). Ravi Shastri was like, ek tayaar player mill gya humein (we have got a ready-made player).&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/keep-it-simple-bangars-advise-to-rohit-sharma-amid-prolonged-lean-patch-8701495">'Keep it simple', Bangar's advise to Rohit Sharma amid prolonged lean patch</a> Gill&rsquo;s rise has been swift since his debut for India in 2019 following his standout performance in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, where he was named &lsquo;Player of the Tournament&rsquo; after scoring 372 runs in six matches. Since then, Gill has become a mainstay in the Indian team, establishing himself as one of the country&rsquo;s premier all-format players.
<h2>Gill: A rising star across formats</h2>
In his 101 international appearances, Gill has accumulated 4,886 runs in 128 innings, averaging 42.85, with 12 centuries and 24 fifties. His ODI career, in particular, stands out, with 2,415 runs in just 48 matches at an impressive average of 58.90, including six centuries and 14 fifties. He is the fastest player in the world to reach 2,000 ODI runs, accomplishing the feat in just 38 innings, and is also the youngest player to score an ODI double-century. He is part of an elite group of Indian players with centuries in all international formats.
However, his Test record has been a bit inconsistent. In 32 Test matches, Gill has scored 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05, with five centuries and seven fifties. In T20Is, he has scored 578 runs in 21 matches, with a strike rate of 139.27.
Gill&rsquo;s most recent performance came in India&rsquo;s tense ODI against England, where he scored a crucial 87 off 96 balls, anchoring the run chase after India was reduced to 19/2. He will next be in action during the second ODI against England at Cuttack on Sunday.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Gill’s rise has been swift since his debut for India in 2019 following his standout performance in 2018 U-19 WC, where he was named ‘Player of the Tournament’

Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar recently shared a memorable recollection of Shubman Gill’s first-ever net session with the Indian senior team, highlighting the opener’s impressive display against throwdown specialists that caught the attention of coach Ravi Shastri. Bangar spoke about how Gill’s performance during the session was so striking that Shastri immediately recognised his potential. See the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Star Sports India (@starsportsindia) In a video shared by Star Sports on their official X handle, Bangar said, “The first glimpse of Shubman Gill we had during his first net session for India, there is a tradition in India that during the nets session, if you want that approval, you will have to do well against throwdown specialists, who bowl really fast. And unhone uss nets session mein, jo ek screen test hota haina, aise patakhe bajaye the (during that session, which is a screen test of sorts, he produced such incredible shots). Ravi Shastri was like, ek tayaar player mill gya humein (we have got a ready-made player).” Also Read: 'Keep it simple', Bangar's advise to Rohit Sharma amid prolonged lean patch Gill’s rise has been swift since his debut for India in 2019 following his standout performance in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, where he was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ after scoring 372 runs in six matches. Since then, Gill has become a mainstay in the Indian team, establishing himself as one of the country’s premier all-format players. Gill: A rising star across formats In his 101 international appearances, Gill has accumulated 4,886 runs in 128 innings, averaging 42.85, with 12 centuries and 24 fifties. His ODI career, in particular, stands out, with 2,415 runs in just 48 matches at an impressive average of 58.90, including six centuries and 14 fifties. He is the fastest player in the world to reach 2,000 ODI runs, accomplishing the feat in just 38 innings, and is also the youngest player to score an ODI double-century. He is part of an elite group of Indian players with centuries in all international formats. However, his Test record has been a bit inconsistent. In 32 Test matches, Gill has scored 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05, with five centuries and seven fifties. In T20Is, he has scored 578 runs in 21 matches, with a strike rate of 139.27. Gill’s most recent performance came in India’s tense ODI against England, where he scored a crucial 87 off 96 balls, anchoring the run chase after India was reduced to 19/2. He will next be in action during the second ODI against England at Cuttack on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies)

'Unbelievable talent!' – Bangar recalls Gill’s eye-catching debut at nets

India batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shreyas-iyer">Shreyas Iyer</a> has revealed that he wasn't supposed to play in the first ODI against England on Thursday (Feb 6). Iyer, however, not only played but scored a match-winning 59 off 36 balls as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The batter was included in the side after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> missed out due to a last-minute injury.
"So, funny story," Iyer said after the match. "I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee. And then [I] hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straightaway," he added.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ind-vs-eng-1st-odi-harshit-rana-takes-three-wickets-but-creates-unwanted-debut-record-8696333">IND vs ENG, 1st ODI: Harshit Rana takes three wickets but creates UNWANTED debut record</a>
Iyer came in to bat at number four and added 94 runs with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> for the third wicket before being trapped LBW by Jacob Bethell on the last ball of the 16th over.
The partnership, however, laid the groundwork for India's chase after two quick wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma. Both the openers were back in the hut inside six overs with just 19 runs on the board in the chase of 248.
After Iyer's dismissal, Gill (87) and Axar Patel (52) added 108 runs for the fourth wicket as India reached the target in the 37th over with four wickets in hand.
<h2>Gill talks about Kohli's injury</h2>
The India vice-captain offered an update on Virat Kohli's injury at the post-match presentation and asserted that the batter would be fit before the second ODI.
"When he woke up in the morning, he had some swelling in his knee. He was fine till yesterday's practice session. There's nothing to worry. He will definitely be fit for the next game," said Gill.
The second ODI of the series will be played on Sunday (Feb 9) in Cuttack.

IND vs ENG: Iyer came in to bat at number four and added 94 runs with Shubman Gill for the third wicket before being trapped LBW by Jacob Bethell for 59. Cricket Sports

India batter Shreyas Iyer has revealed that he wasn't supposed to play in the first ODI against England on Thursday (Feb 6). Iyer, however, not only played but scored a match-winning 59 off 36 balls as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The batter was included in the side after Virat Kohli missed out due to a last-minute injury. "So, funny story," Iyer said after the match. "I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee. And then [I] hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straightaway," he added. Also Read: IND vs ENG, 1st ODI: Harshit Rana takes three wickets but creates UNWANTED debut record Iyer came in to bat at number four and added 94 runs with Shubman Gill for the third wicket before being trapped LBW by Jacob Bethell on the last ball of the 16th over. The partnership, however, laid the groundwork for India's chase after two quick wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma. Both the openers were back in the hut inside six overs with just 19 runs on the board in the chase of 248. After Iyer's dismissal, Gill (87) and Axar Patel (52) added 108 runs for the fourth wicket as India reached the target in the 37th over with four wickets in hand. Gill talks about Kohli's injury The India vice-captain offered an update on Virat Kohli's injury at the post-match presentation and asserted that the batter would be fit before the second ODI. "When he woke up in the morning, he had some swelling in his knee. He was fine till yesterday's practice session. There's nothing to worry. He will definitely be fit for the next game," said Gill. The second ODI of the series will be played on Sunday (Feb 9) in Cuttack.

IND vs ENG: 'I got a call from...,' Shreyas Iyer reveals he wasn't supposed to play 1st ODI in Nagpur

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India&rsquo;s vice-captain,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubhman-gill">Shubman Gill</a>, has defended the team&rsquo;s performance in the recently concluded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/border-gavaskar-trophy">Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>, emphasising that one bad series does not define their legacy. India suffered a 1-3 series defeat against Australia, marking the end of their decade-long dominance in the marquee Test rivalry. However, Gill insisted that despite the disappointing result, the team played quality cricket and deserved recognition for their past achievements.<span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Speaking ahead of India&rsquo;s first ODI against England in Nagpur on Thursday, Gill stated that one series does not determine the overall form of a team, pointing to the consistent performances of several players in past tournaments. 
He also highlighted the absence of Jasprit&nbsp;Bumrah on the final day of the fourth Test in Brisbane, suggesting that his presence could have changed the outcome of the match and possibly the series. According to Gill, had Bumrah been available, India could have won the match, drawn the series, and avoided the criticism they are currently facing.<span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW190784383 BCX0" lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">'No toxic competition within the team'</h2>
Gill urged critics to consider India&rsquo;s broader accomplishments, including their back-to-back Test series wins in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21), their 2023 ODI World Cup final appearance, and their consistent dominance in world cricket. He stressed that one match or one series does not define the team&rsquo;s overall ability, reminding everyone of India&rsquo;s past successes on the global stage.<span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
<span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/travis-head-wants-this-batsman-to-open-for-australia-in-wtc-final-8690451">Travis Head wants this batsman to open for Australia in WTC final. He is...</a> 
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Addressing the growing competition for top-order spots, Gill acknowledged the rise of Abhishek Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal but dismissed any notions of rivalry. He emphasised that there is no toxic competition within the team as all players share mutual respect and support each other&rsquo;s success. Abhishek, being a childhood friend, and Jaiswal, a close teammate, both add strength to the squad, and Gill sees their performances as a positive sign for Indian cricket.<span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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With Rohit Sharma, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Gill himself returning for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, India is shifting its focus to the limited-overs format. This series will be crucial in fine-tuning the team&rsquo;s combinations ahead of the ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> in Dubai, where India will aim to reclaim the title they last won in 2013.<span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
<span class="EOP SCXW190784383 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">(With inputs from agencies)
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Cricket Sports: Gill also highlighted the absence of Jasprit Bumrah on final day of fourth Test in Brisbane, suggesting that his presence could have changed outcome of the match

India’s vice-captain, Shubman Gill, has defended the team’s performance in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, emphasising that one bad series does not define their legacy. India suffered a 1-3 series defeat against Australia, marking the end of their decade-long dominance in the marquee Test rivalry. However, Gill insisted that despite the disappointing result, the team played quality cricket and deserved recognition for their past achievements. Speaking ahead of India’s first ODI against England in Nagpur on Thursday, Gill stated that one series does not determine the overall form of a team, pointing to the consistent performances of several players in past tournaments. He also highlighted the absence of Jasprit Bumrah on the final day of the fourth Test in Brisbane, suggesting that his presence could have changed the outcome of the match and possibly the series. According to Gill, had Bumrah been available, India could have won the match, drawn the series, and avoided the criticism they are currently facing. 'No toxic competition within the team' Gill urged critics to consider India’s broader accomplishments, including their back-to-back Test series wins in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21), their 2023 ODI World Cup final appearance, and their consistent dominance in world cricket. He stressed that one match or one series does not define the team’s overall ability, reminding everyone of India’s past successes on the global stage. Also Read: Travis Head wants this batsman to open for Australia in WTC final. He is... Addressing the growing competition for top-order spots, Gill acknowledged the rise of Abhishek Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal but dismissed any notions of rivalry. He emphasised that there is no toxic competition within the team as all players share mutual respect and support each other’s success. Abhishek, being a childhood friend, and Jaiswal, a close teammate, both add strength to the squad, and Gill sees their performances as a positive sign for Indian cricket. With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Gill himself returning for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, India is shifting its focus to the limited-overs format. This series will be crucial in fine-tuning the team’s combinations ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, where India will aim to reclaim the title they last won in 2013. (With inputs from agencies)

‘One match and one day doesn’t define us’: Shubman Gill defends India’s loss in BGT

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ranji-trophy-round-up-shubman-gill-returns-to-form-but-star-studded-mumbai-lose-to-jk-8653101">Shubman Gill roared back to form with a hundred</a> against Karnataka in the recently concluded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy" rel="dofollow">Ranji Trophy</a> tie, days after he returned from his second tour Down Under, where he failed with the bat. The newly-appointed Team India&rsquo;s ODI vice-captain reflected on what went wrong with his game and technique against Australia, admitting a few technical failures led to a dip in his form.
After the BCCI made it mandatory for every centrally contracted player to return to the drawing board (playing domestic cricket) following two series losses (to New Zealand and Australia), Gill opened for Punjab in their next Ranji game. He failed in the first innings, getting out on just four, but slammed his 14th first-class century in the next, even though that couldn't save Punjab from losing (by an innings and 207 runs).
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/nicholas-pooran-withdraws-run-out-appeal-strange-ilt20-episode-watch-mi-emirates-tom-curran-8655048" rel="dofollow">Nicholas Pooran withdraws run-out appeal in strange ILT20 episode &ndash; Watch</a>
Looking back at some of his dismissals on the tour Down Under, his mistimed and misjudged shots in a single Test (fifth match in Sydney) cost him his wicket at the wrong time and eventually the result for India. While he nicked one to Steve Smith in the first slip just at the stroke of lunch (by dancing down to Nathan Lyon), he tried taking on the debutant Beau Webster, only for him to find an inside edge to the keeper. Both came when India needed him in the middle, but he failed.
"Sometimes, I think with the red ball, in the matches that I play, I tend to get a very good 25-30, and, in those moments, I sometimes tend to put too much pressure on myself to be able to convert those," Gill said in Bengaluru.&nbsp;
"That is not the way that I have grown up playing my game.
"There is a certain zone that I am in, certain intent that I am in, and sometimes I think I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set. I think in those crucial moments, I sometimes lose my focus and concentration,&rdquo; he added.
<h2>Time for white-ball cricket</h2>
Gill is among the selected star players returning to the ODI squad for the England series and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/icc-champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a>, alongside white-ball captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah.&nbsp;
India will play three ODIs against England (starting Feb 6) before flying to Dubai for the eight-team tournament beginning February 19. Given Gill's promotion to the leadership group, he would open alongside Rohit, with uncapped Yashasvi Jaiswal picked as a backup opener.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Gill reflected on what went wrong with his game and technique against Australia, admitting a few technical failures led to a dip in his form.

Shubman Gill roared back to form with a hundred against Karnataka in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy tie, days after he returned from his second tour Down Under, where he failed with the bat. The newly-appointed Team India’s ODI vice-captain reflected on what went wrong with his game and technique against Australia, admitting a few technical failures led to a dip in his form. After the BCCI made it mandatory for every centrally contracted player to return to the drawing board (playing domestic cricket) following two series losses (to New Zealand and Australia), Gill opened for Punjab in their next Ranji game. He failed in the first innings, getting out on just four, but slammed his 14th first-class century in the next, even though that couldn't save Punjab from losing (by an innings and 207 runs). Also read | Nicholas Pooran withdraws run-out appeal in strange ILT20 episode – Watch Looking back at some of his dismissals on the tour Down Under, his mistimed and misjudged shots in a single Test (fifth match in Sydney) cost him his wicket at the wrong time and eventually the result for India. While he nicked one to Steve Smith in the first slip just at the stroke of lunch (by dancing down to Nathan Lyon), he tried taking on the debutant Beau Webster, only for him to find an inside edge to the keeper. Both came when India needed him in the middle, but he failed. "Sometimes, I think with the red ball, in the matches that I play, I tend to get a very good 25-30, and, in those moments, I sometimes tend to put too much pressure on myself to be able to convert those," Gill said in Bengaluru. "That is not the way that I have grown up playing my game. "There is a certain zone that I am in, certain intent that I am in, and sometimes I think I lose that because I put too much pressure on myself that I have to get a big run now that I am set. I think in those crucial moments, I sometimes lose my focus and concentration,” he added. Time for white-ball cricket Gill is among the selected star players returning to the ODI squad for the England series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, alongside white-ball captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah. India will play three ODIs against England (starting Feb 6) before flying to Dubai for the eight-team tournament beginning February 19. Given Gill's promotion to the leadership group, he would open alongside Rohit, with uncapped Yashasvi Jaiswal picked as a backup opener. (With inputs from agencies)

'In crucial moments I sometimes lose focus': Shubman Gill reflects on red-ball struggle

In a massive boost to Team India&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy-2025">Champions Trophy 2025</a> chances, new vice-captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shubman-gill">Shubman Gill</a> has returned to form. Playing against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy tie in Bengaluru, Gill slammed a stunning hundred for Punjab, though his side lost the game. Elsewhere, the star-studded Mumbai Ranji Trophy team suffered a shock five-wicket defeat to Jammu &amp; Kashmir at BKC.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6c372vk-we2upc3n-hs6z5is5">
J &amp; K WIN! 👏👏 Abid Mushtaq finishes it off in style with a 6⃣ 💥 J &amp; K beat Mumbai by 5 wickets, chasing down 205 👌 What a crucial &amp; fantastic victory for them! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RanjiTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RanjiTrophy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/oYXDhqotjO">https://t.co/oYXDhqotjO</a> <a href="https://t.co/SG0Ni1n9ZO">pic.twitter.com/SG0Ni1n9ZO</a>
&mdash; BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIdomestic/status/1883080536866136550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
For Mumbai, CT-bound players failed, but out-of-favour all-rounder Shardul Thakur impressed everyone with a second-inning hundred.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-jasprit-bumrah-among-four-indians-included-in-icc-mens-t20i-team-of-the-year-8652840" rel="dofollow">Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah among four Indians included in ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year</a>
Upon returning to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/domestic-cricket">domestic cricket</a> following a horrid tour Down Under, Gill opened for Punjab, scoring a mere four. With the visiting side trailing behind by over 400 runs in the second innings, Gill hit a resilient 102 off 171 balls, hitting 14 fours and three sixes.
The right-handed batter looked out of touch during his second tour Down Under, scoring just 93 runs from five innings. Though he missed the series opener with a thumb injury he sustained in the lead-up to the Perth Test, the selectors dropped him for his poor run with the bat for the Boxing Day Test, which India lost.
<h2>J&amp;K beat Mumbai</h2>
On the other side, Mumbai tumbled to a five-wicket loss at the hands of the touring J&amp;K side. Despite having heavyweights like Rohit Sharma, captain Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal and even Shardul Thakur in their ranks, Mumbai failed to defend the total.
Chasing over 200, J&amp;K completed the chase with five wickets remaining, sealing their knockout berth. Also, it was their first win over the 42-time champions in over a decade, having last won against Mumbai in December 2014 at the Wankhede.&nbsp;
Though Thakur impressed all with his magical hundred in the second innings, saving Mumbai&rsquo;s sinking ship (after they got reduced to 101 for seven at one stage), none of the India internationals had a noteworthy outing. Rohit and Jaiswal scored 28 and 26, respectively, while Iyer (17) and Rahane (16) were far from impressive.&nbsp;
<h3>What&rsquo;s next for Rohit?</h3>
Rohit will feature in Mumbai&rsquo;s last Ranji Trophy league game against Meghalaya at home starting January 30. While other teammates might retain their places in the XI, Virat Kohli&rsquo;s return to the Delhi side for their last game against the Railways remains the highlight.
After this, all CT-bound players will return to playing the first ODI against England starting February 6, with two more ODIs scheduled on 9 and 12.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the eight-team tournament begins in Pakistan (on February 19). India will play Bangladesh in their tournament opener in Dubai the next day.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: For Mumbai, CT-bound players failed, but out-of-favour all-rounder Shardul Thakur impressed everyone with a second-inning hundred.

In a massive boost to Team India’s Champions Trophy 2025 chances, new vice-captain Shubman Gill has returned to form. Playing against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy tie in Bengaluru, Gill slammed a stunning hundred for Punjab, though his side lost the game. Elsewhere, the star-studded Mumbai Ranji Trophy team suffered a shock five-wicket defeat to Jammu & Kashmir at BKC. J & K WIN! 👏👏 Abid Mushtaq finishes it off in style with a 6⃣ 💥 J & K beat Mumbai by 5 wickets, chasing down 205 👌 What a crucial & fantastic victory for them! 🔥#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/oYXDhqotjO pic.twitter.com/SG0Ni1n9ZO — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 25, 2025 For Mumbai, CT-bound players failed, but out-of-favour all-rounder Shardul Thakur impressed everyone with a second-inning hundred. Also read | Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah among four Indians included in ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year Upon returning to domestic cricket following a horrid tour Down Under, Gill opened for Punjab, scoring a mere four. With the visiting side trailing behind by over 400 runs in the second innings, Gill hit a resilient 102 off 171 balls, hitting 14 fours and three sixes. The right-handed batter looked out of touch during his second tour Down Under, scoring just 93 runs from five innings. Though he missed the series opener with a thumb injury he sustained in the lead-up to the Perth Test, the selectors dropped him for his poor run with the bat for the Boxing Day Test, which India lost. J&K beat Mumbai On the other side, Mumbai tumbled to a five-wicket loss at the hands of the touring J&K side. Despite having heavyweights like Rohit Sharma, captain Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal and even Shardul Thakur in their ranks, Mumbai failed to defend the total. Chasing over 200, J&K completed the chase with five wickets remaining, sealing their knockout berth. Also, it was their first win over the 42-time champions in over a decade, having last won against Mumbai in December 2014 at the Wankhede. Though Thakur impressed all with his magical hundred in the second innings, saving Mumbai’s sinking ship (after they got reduced to 101 for seven at one stage), none of the India internationals had a noteworthy outing. Rohit and Jaiswal scored 28 and 26, respectively, while Iyer (17) and Rahane (16) were far from impressive. What’s next for Rohit? Rohit will feature in Mumbai’s last Ranji Trophy league game against Meghalaya at home starting January 30. While other teammates might retain their places in the XI, Virat Kohli’s return to the Delhi side for their last game against the Railways remains the highlight. After this, all CT-bound players will return to playing the first ODI against England starting February 6, with two more ODIs scheduled on 9 and 12. Meanwhile, the eight-team tournament begins in Pakistan (on February 19). India will play Bangladesh in their tournament opener in Dubai the next day. (With inputs from agencies)

Ranji Trophy round up: Shubman Gill shines, Mumbai's heavyweights fail

India's premier domestic red-ball tournament <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ranji Trophy</a> saw return of international stars for the matches which started on Thursday (Jan 23). From Shubman Gill, India's new vice-captain in ODIs, to Rishabh Pant - the dashing wicketkeeper-batter made an appearance.
The most anticipated match was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ranji-trophy-mumbai-vs-jammu-and-kashmir-from-rohit-to-t20-world-cup-winning-all-rounder-how-india-international-players-performed-8647340" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mumbai vs Jammu and Kashmir</a> which featured India skipper Rohit Sharma along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube.
<h2>Here are how India's international players from other matches fared in Ranji Trophy</h2>
<h3>Punjab vs Karnataka&nbsp;</h3>
Shuman Gill (Punjab): The Punjab skipper opened the innings against Karnataka but lasted only eight balls and managed just four runs as his team was bowled out for 55.
Prasidh Krishna (Karnataka): The India pacer, turning up for Karnataka, took 2/11 in eight overs vs Punjab. Krishna most recently played for India in the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test in Sydney.
Punjab vs Karnataka Score: Punjab - 55 all out 1st innings vs Karnataka - 199/4 1st innings; Karnataka lead by 144 runs after day 1
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ranji-trophy-bcci-suspends-ankit-bawne-for-refusing-to-walk-after-being-out-ankit-bawne-ranji-trophy-runs-matches-stats-8646387" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meet Ankit Bawne - Maharashtra batter with 8000-plus runs suspended by BCCI in Ranji Trophy for showing dissent</a>
<h3>Maharashtra vs Baroda</h3>
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Maharashtra): The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper scored just 10 runs in the Ranji Trophy match against Baroda as his team posted 258/7 at the end of day 1.
Maharashtra vs Baroda Score: Maharashtra - 258/7 1st innings on day 1
<h3>Rajasthan vs Vidarbha</h3>
Karun Nair (Vidarbha): The India batter, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/vidarbha-skipper-karun-nair-vijay-hazare-trophy-records-most-runs-by-captain-in-single-season-surpasses-ruturaj-gaikwad-8627898">who recently scored 779 runs at an average of 389.50 in Vijay Hazare Trophy</a>, managed just 39 runs as his side was bowled out for 165. Khaleel Ahmed took for 5/37 Rajasthan.
Rajasthan vs Vidarbha Score: Vidarbha - 165 1st innings vs Rajasthan 101/5 1st innings; Rajasthan trail by 64 runs on day 1
<h3>Delhi vs Saurashtra</h3>
Rishabh Pant (Delhi): The dashing wicketkeeper-batter scored only one run off 10 balls against Saurashtra as his side was bundled out for 188 in the first innings.
Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra): India's premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja took a five-wicket haul on his return to the Ranji Trophy. Jadeja finished with the figures of 5/66.
Delhi vs Saurashtra Score: Delhi - 188 &nbsp;all out in 1st innings vs Saurashtra - 163/5 in 1st innings; Saurashtra lead by 62 innings on day 1

Ranji Trophy: From Shubman Gill, India's new vice-captain in ODIs, to Rishabh Pant, the dashing wicketkeeper-batter, many stars made an appearance on Jan 23 in domestic cricket. Sports

India's premier domestic red-ball tournament Ranji Trophy saw return of international stars for the matches which started on Thursday (Jan 23). From Shubman Gill, India's new vice-captain in ODIs, to Rishabh Pant - the dashing wicketkeeper-batter made an appearance. The most anticipated match was Mumbai vs Jammu and Kashmir which featured India skipper Rohit Sharma along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube. Here are how India's international players from other matches fared in Ranji Trophy Punjab vs Karnataka Shuman Gill (Punjab): The Punjab skipper opened the innings against Karnataka but lasted only eight balls and managed just four runs as his team was bowled out for 55. Prasidh Krishna (Karnataka): The India pacer, turning up for Karnataka, took 2/11 in eight overs vs Punjab. Krishna most recently played for India in the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test in Sydney. Punjab vs Karnataka Score: Punjab - 55 all out 1st innings vs Karnataka - 199/4 1st innings; Karnataka lead by 144 runs after day 1 Also Read: Meet Ankit Bawne - Maharashtra batter with 8000-plus runs suspended by BCCI in Ranji Trophy for showing dissent Maharashtra vs Baroda Ruturaj Gaikwad (Maharashtra): The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper scored just 10 runs in the Ranji Trophy match against Baroda as his team posted 258/7 at the end of day 1. Maharashtra vs Baroda Score: Maharashtra - 258/7 1st innings on day 1 Rajasthan vs Vidarbha Karun Nair (Vidarbha): The India batter, who recently scored 779 runs at an average of 389.50 in Vijay Hazare Trophy, managed just 39 runs as his side was bowled out for 165. Khaleel Ahmed took for 5/37 Rajasthan. Rajasthan vs Vidarbha Score: Vidarbha - 165 1st innings vs Rajasthan 101/5 1st innings; Rajasthan trail by 64 runs on day 1 Delhi vs Saurashtra Rishabh Pant (Delhi): The dashing wicketkeeper-batter scored only one run off 10 balls against Saurashtra as his side was bundled out for 188 in the first innings. Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra): India's premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja took a five-wicket haul on his return to the Ranji Trophy. Jadeja finished with the figures of 5/66. Delhi vs Saurashtra Score: Delhi - 188 all out in 1st innings vs Saurashtra - 163/5 in 1st innings; Saurashtra lead by 62 innings on day 1

Ranji Trophy: From Shubman Gill to Rishabh Pant - How India players performed

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