India captain Rohit Sharma heaped praise on his young opening partner after Gill’s match-winning century helped India secure a six-wicket victory in Dubai, marking a strong start to their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.
Chasing 229, Rohit set the tone with a brisk 41 off 36 balls, but India found themselves in a spot of bother at 144/4. Gill, alongside KL Rahul, steadied the innings with an unbeaten 87-run stand, guiding India to victory. Gill’s exceptional form continued as he registered his seventh ODI century—his second in four innings, along with two half-centuries.
At the post-match presentation, Sharma lauded Gill’s performance, saying, “We know the class he has. He’s been batting brilliantly of late, and today’s innings shouldn’t surprise anyone. What stood out was that he stayed till the end.
Rohit Sharma Delighted for Shami
Mohammed Shami played a pivotal role in India’s victory, securing his fifth five-wicket haul in ODI cricket. He struck twice in the powerplay and added three more wickets in the death overs, dismantling the opposition’s batting lineup.
Expressing his delight, Rohit Sharma praised Shami’s impact, saying, “Very happy for Shami. Long time waiting. We know what he brings for us—the quality he has. Every time we throw the ball at him, he’s got something up his sleeve, and we need guys like him to step up in big moments.”
India’s next challenge is a high-stakes clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday. Rohit anticipates that the pitch will once again assist spinners with turn and grip.
“Not sure, but it will be pretty much similar, I guess. I am not the curator here to tell you exactly how it will play, but it looks like it, with the way the games have been played here,” Sharma added.
