New Delhi: Indian batter Shubman Gill has reacted to the speculations about the retirement of senior cricketers in the team after the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. As India face New Zealand for the final match on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai, the talks have been around the possible retirements of players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The two senior players are on the twilight of their career and the main question is whether they will be available to play in the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted in South Africa. Many in the cricketing fraternity are of the belief that regardless of India’s result against the Black caps in the final, either one of Rohit or Kohli is expected to call time on their ODI career.
However, Gill, who is the vice-captain of the Indian team in the ongoing tournament, said that no retirement talks have been discussed in the dressing room.
“There is no talk about retirement in the dressing room, now,” Gill said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand.
Gill speaks on India’s batting depth
India have won all their three matches of Group A against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand to lead the charts. The Men in Blue defeated Australia by six wickets in an intriguing clash in the semi-final. Kohli (217 runs at 72.33) and Shreyas Iyer (195 runs at 48.75) have made the cream of the team runs in the tournament. Gill smashed a determined hundred against Bangladesh in a mediocre run-chase of 230.
The 25-year-old youngster credits the batting depth India has at its disposal and how it allows the openers to play with free will. The likes of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul solidify the middle order while all-rounders Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja also play as floaters according to the situation.
“This is the best batting line up I am part of. Rohit is one of the best openers (in the world) and Virat, we need not tell about him. But our team has depth in batting and that allows the top order to bat with bit more freedom,” Gill said.
India last won the Champions Trophy in 2013 after defeating the hosts England by five runs. The team lost to Pakistan in the 2017 edition to settle for the runners-up spot.
Shubman Gill, India’s vice-captain, addressed speculation about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s potential retirements after the Champions Trophy. Gill highlighted India’s strong batting lineup, crediting its depth for allowing openers greater freedom. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
