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Gautam Gambhir praises Rohit Sharma’s leadership and character ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy final. Speculations arise about Rohit and Virat Kohli’s retirement post-tournament.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir (left) and captain Rohit Sharma have a chat during a training session. (PTI Photo)
India men’s head coach Gautam Gambhir feels skipper Rohit Sharma is ‘just a great guy’ whose good nature reflects in his captaincy and has helped him achieve success with Mumbai Indians and India.
Gambhir was speaking in a social media video posted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, scheduled for Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This is Rohit and Men in Blue’s third ICC final in as many years, having ended as runners-up in the 2023 World Cup and won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“Forget about Rohit as a captain,” Gambhir said in the ICC video. “I’ve had a fabulous relationship with him. I think he’s just a great guy, and that is something that’s important. When you’re a good human being, you end up becoming a good leader. That’s the reason why I feel he’s achieved quite a lot with his IPL franchise and has won the T20 World Cup as well,” he added.
“But again, those are histories, that’s the past. Now we have a new challenge ahead. Hopefully, he can be at his best, not only from a batting point of view but as a leader as well,” Gambhir said.
Rohit has won five IPL titles as the captain of Mumbai Indians and one as a player with the Deccan Chargers.
‘Not going to be easy’: Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma’s possible Retirement
Speculations are rife about Rohit and Virat Kohli’s future after the 2025 Champions Trophy. Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 36, though fit are at an age where most cricketers give up playing the sport at the highest level.
“It’s entirely up to them,” former Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel. “I will be very honest, it’s not going to be easy. In 2025, Kohli’s performance with the bat has been outstanding and Rohit’s has been okay, okay. I won’t say his performance is very good. He might change the scenario by scoring a hundred in the final.”
“Someone else even asked me whether they would retire. I said I don’t know. Their retirement after winning the T20 World Cup seemed slightly logical and it was along the expected lines. It wasn’t shocking, but here if they leave both T20Is and ODIs, only Tests will be left then. Will they go down that route? Who knows,” he added.
For more in-depth coverage of the Champions Trophy, check out the latest Points Table to see where your favorite team stands. Stay updated on the tournament’s top performers with the Most Runs and Most Wickets leaderboards. Keep following for all the latest updates!
