India vice-captain Shubman Gill is all set to make a mark in the upcoming Champions Trophy final. But before the big game, in a recently released video by ICC titled Sit Down with India Vice-Captain Shubman Gill Ahead of Champions Trophy Final, he was seen discussing all the crucial aspects ahead of the high-stakes match.
From the lessons he learned from past mistakes, especially in knockout tournaments, to how he plans to apply those learnings in the upcoming CT 2025 final clash against New Zealand, Gill covered it all. Most importantly, he spoke about India captain Rohit Sharma. When asked about Rohit Sharma and his preparation for major tournaments, Gill had nothing but praise. He described Rohit as a ‘chill guy’ who doesn’t overthink big games but puts in the same effort in knockout matches as he does in group-stage encounters.
Shubman Gill on Rohit Sharma
“I think he prepares like any other match or any other series. That’s the best part about him, as it doesn’t matter if it’s a big tournament like the World Cup or Champions Trophy, or any series against any team. He has his own way of going about things. He is generally very relaxed outside the cricket setup, a very chill guy to hang out with. He’s very open, someone with whom you can have any kind of conversation. I think that’s why he has a great bonding with all the team players, especially the younger ones in the squad”.
And when the interviewer asked him who plays a better pull shot, he immediately said, Definitely Rohit Sharma is the better pull shot batter.
Big expectations from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in Champions Trophy final
Not much has come from Rohit Sharma’s bat so far, but as the saying goes, some batters save it for the big game. We’ve seen this in the past as well, whether it was MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli.
On one hand, MS Dhoni’s form in the 2011 World Cup wasn’t particularly impressive, but he showed his brilliance when it mattered most, delivering in the World Cup final. Similarly, Virat Kohli faced criticism during the 2024 T20 World Cup due to his inconsistent form, but he silenced his critics with an impressive innings in the final against South Africa.
Now, all eyes will be on India captain Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, his opening partner Shubman Gill has enjoyed an amazing outing so far, especially with his performances in the group stage. His form has been incredible, and he has been carrying that momentum for the past few months. His stellar outings against England in the three-match ODI series and against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy group stage highlighted his impressive form.
However, the only concern is his performance in knockout matches. While Gill hasn’t played many knockout games, his record hasn’t been remarkable either. Although he delivered a fantastic knock against England in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, he failed to make an impact in the final against Australia. Even in the recently held Champions Trophy semi-final, Gill couldn’t contribute much with the bat.
As India prepares for the big final vs New Zealand, all eyes will be on these two impactful batters to deliver when it matters most.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill runs in Champions Trophy 2025
| Player | Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 0s |
| Shubman Gill | 4 | 4 | 1 | 157 | 101* | 52.33 | 199 | 78.89 | 1 | – | – |
| Rohit Sharma | 4 | 4 | – | 104 | 41 | 26 | 97 | 107.21 | – | – | – |
