India captain Rohit Sharma praised his deputy Shubman Gill and veteran pacer Mohammad Shami for their match-winning performances in Thursday's Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh in Dubai.
Gill stayed unbroken with a superb century, and Shami's five-wicket haul destroyed Bangladesh's batting lineup, allowing India to win by six wickets.
Rohit praised Gill's controlled knock at the post-match presentation, emphasizing his ability to finish games.
"Gill, we all know the class he possesses. He has been in brilliant form lately, and what he showed today shouldn't surprise anyone. What stood out was how he stayed till the end to ensure the win. We've been in these situations before. There’s a lot of experience in the dressing room, and KL and Gill showed great composure at the end,” Rohit Sharma said at the post-match presentation.
Mohammad Shami took a five-wicket haul on his ICC Champions Trophy debut, and Rohit Sharma praised the veteran pacer as well. Shami also became the joint second quickest to 200 ODI wickets.
"Very happy for him. It has been a long wait, but we all know what he brings to the team. His quality, his match-winning ability—every time we hand him the ball, he delivers. We need guys like him to step up in big moments," Rohit said.
With India’s next match against Pakistan on February 23, Rohit expects the Dubai International Stadium pitch to continue playing slow.
"It’s just one game, so it’s hard to predict, but we knew with little grass on the pitch, it would be on the slower side, and that’s exactly how it played," he explained.
India began their pursuit of 229 vigorously, but had to change their strategy midway. Rohit stated that his team was under pressure.
"We were under pressure a bit, but that’s expected in a tournament like the Champions Trophy. Against quality teams, you will have tense moments, and that’s where experience comes in," he noted.
Rohit also reflected on his dropped catch of Jaker Ali, which denied Axar Patel a hat-trick.
"Might take him (Axar) out for dinner tomorrow! It was an easy catch, and I should have taken it, especially given the standards I’ve set for myself in the slip cordon. These things happen in cricket. They were 36 for five, but there will always be partnerships. Credit to Hridoy and Jaker, they played brilliantly," he concluded.
Shubman Gill was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant century, also on Champions Trophy debut. He labeled his 101* as 'one of his most satisfying innings'. Chasing 229 for victory, Gill struck a solid 129-ball 101 not out laced with 9 fours and a couple of sixes.
"Definitely (it was) one of my most satisfying innings that I've played and my first century in an ICC event so very satisfying and very happy with the way I performed. When myself and Rohit bhai went out there, cutting the ball wasn't that easy because the balls outside the off (stump) weren't coming onto the bat. So I thought of using my feet to even the fast bowlers when I'm trying to go over the circle,” Gill said during the presentation.
"When the spinners came on me and Virat bhai were talking about in the middle that it's not easy to score signals off the front foot. At one point there was a bit of pressure on us and the message was sent from outside (that) I have to try to be at the end and that's what I tried to do,” he added.
India will next face Pakistan on Sunday, February 23 in Dubai.
(PTI inputs)
