India’s cricket coach, Gautam Gambhir, has emphasized the crucial roles that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will play in the upcoming Champions Trophy. He also downplayed the excitement surrounding India’s match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Kohli and Rohit, who have been key players for India, are looking to help the team capture the Champions Trophy title for the first time since 2013. However, both players had a tough time during the recent tour of Australia, leading to questions about their future with the Indian cricket team.
Recently, Kohli and Rohit returned to domestic cricket to gear up for the Champions Trophy. Speaking at the Naman Awards event on February 1, Gambhir shared his thoughts, stating that both players are eager and passionate about representing India. He pointed out that the Champions Trophy will be a demanding tournament, where every match feels crucial. According to Gambhir, the team will need to perform well across all games to have a shot at the trophy.
“They have to play a significant role. They are very eager to play for the country,” Gambhir noted. “The Champions Trophy is a different kind of challenge compared to the World Cup, where every game acts like a knockout. We can’t afford to slip up. To win the trophy, we need to win five matches. Rohit and Virat bring exceptional value to our team, and they must stay hungry.”
India is set to face Pakistan in a highly anticipated match on February 23 during the Champions Trophy. As the tournament approaches, there has been much talk about this clash. However, Gambhir has urged not to focus solely on this one game.
He pointed out that while the match against Pakistan is significant, the team must treat all five of their matches as equally important. “We aren’t heading to Dubai thinking the 23rd is the most pivotal game,” Gambhir explained. “Our goal is to win every match. When India plays Pakistan, emotions run high, but at the end of the day, it remains a contest between bat and ball.”
India will kick off their Champions Trophy journey against Bangladesh on February 20.
