International Cricket Thread
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Gill says World Cup triumph, not Australia loss, defines India
AFP
February 5, 2025
NAGPUR: Reigning T20 World Cup champions India have been in top form across all formats, vice-captain Shubman Gill said on Tuesday, dismissing his side’s Test defeat in Australia as a one-off.
Rohit Sharma’s men clinched the T20 crown in South Africa last year, seven months after they ended the most recent ODI World Cup at home as runners-up.
But a 3-0 Test whitewash at home to New Zealand in October-November, followed by the 3-1 defeat in Australia last month, saw star cricketers including Sharma and Virat Kohli come under scrutiny for their poor batting form.
“One series does not define the form of the whole team,” Gill told reporters ahead of the first of three One-day Internationals against England starting in Nagpur on Thursday. “Definitely we did not play as per our expectations in the Australian series, but still we played some good cricket,” the top-order batsman said.
“One match and one day doesn’t define us… we should keep all those things in mind.”
The three ODI matches, which follow India’s 4-1 T20 series victory over England, come ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy starting on February 19.
Sharma and Kohli, who both retired from T20 cricket after the World Cup win, return to the ODI set-up and Gill said the team is upbeat.
However, he also warned the three matches against a “good” England team were not a practice run for the Champions Trophy. Gill, 25, is seen as a potential future leader for India whenever Sharma, 37, retires from ODI and Test cricket.
He said being deputy to Sharma had been one of the main challenges of his international career since 2019.
ghazi52
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India’s Rohit, Kohli have ‘massive role’ in Champions Trophy, says Gambhir
Reuters
February 2, 2025
Labourers work during a media tour, organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on January 20. — Reuters/File
India’s Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma celebrate with the trophy after winning the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 29, 2024. — AFP File Photo
India coach Gautam Gambhir said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have much to offer the team despite their poor run of form in recent matches, stressing the veteran duo will play a key role in this month’s Champions Trophy.
Captain Rohit and batter Kohli were both part of the test team that suffered a 3-0 series sweep at home by New Zealand followed by a 3-1 hammering in Australia which ended their decade-long hold on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Following the defeat to Australia, both players returned to domestic cricket in a bid to rediscover their best form.
“I think both Rohit and Virat, they add so much value to the dressing room. They add so much value to Indian cricket as well. They’ve got to play a massive role (in the Champions Trophy),” Gambhir told reporters on Saturday.
“And I’ve said it before as well, those guys are so hungry, they want to play for the country. They have the passion to play for the country and deliver for the country.”
India are in Group A in the Champions Trophy and meet Bangladesh in Dubai on Feb 20, before taking on defending champions and rivals Pakistan and ending their group campaign against New Zealand.
“The Champions Trophy is a completely different challenge as compared to the 50-over World Cup because literally every game is a make-or-break, so you can’t stop anywhere in this tournament,” Gambhir said.
“So hopefully we’re going to start off really well, because ultimately, if you want to go on and win the competition, you have to win five games…
“We don’t go to the Champions Trophy thinking that Feb 23 (versus Pakistan) is the most important game for us. I think five games, all the games are important. The mission to go to Dubai is to win the Champions Trophy, not only win one particular game.”
ghazi52
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- #291
India relieved as Rohit regains form ahead of Champions Trophy
Sunday’s 119 off 90 balls was a timely reminder that the elegant opener is not a spent force yet.
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