India made it 3 out of 4 ICC finals after Virat Kohli led the chase against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. Now, captain Rohit Sharma has declared a day break for the team.
On to another ICC final now as the India Cricket Team stormed into the final of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a 4-wicket win over arch-nemesis Australia in Dubai. And as Virat Kohli once again set the stage for a record run chase with an 84-run knock, India captain Rohit Sharma wants all the “players to relax” a bit before the big final on Sunday. He has declared Monday a holiday for the players who will keep an eye on the 2nd semifinal between South Africa vs New Zealand in Lahore.
“We’ll not think too much about it. Both are good teams, that’s why they are in the semis. It’s a very high-pressure tournament, it’s always nice to have some time off and relax and then think about the final,” Rohit Sharma said at the post-match presentation of IND vs AUS Semifinal in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Rohit Sharma was nervous
While Rohit did not admit that he was nervous during the match after a heartbreak in the World Cup 2023 final, it was clear from his response. While chasing 265 wasn’t a big ask, Australia have a knack of coming back. With the pitch not very helpful of batting, Rohit wasn’t 100% confident.
“Till the last ball is bowled, nothing is certain. Halfway through the game, we felt it was a reasonable score, and we have to bat really really well. I thought we were very clinical with the bat. We were very calm and composed. The wicket looked better, and that has been the nature of the surfaces,” Rohit said after India’s win.
Virat Kohli does it again
However, something Rohit was certain about was Virat Kohli’s capability to dictate in chase. As he has done numerous times, Kohli did that again in Dubai. Kohli’s laborious 84-run knock off 97 deliveries set the tone of the chase. His 91-run partnership was crucial after India lost Rohit and Shubman Gill inside the first 10 overs. Virat Kohli has now scored 8063 runs in chasing a target. He has 28 centuries and 41 half-centuries.
“He (Kohli) has done it for us for so many years. We were very calm. We wanted that big stand that Shreyas and Virat had. Then the shots by Hardik in the end were very important. I am very happy with that. When you want to play the final, you want all your guys in form. That is something that gives us a lot of confidence,” Rohit added.
On to the final
Now, Rohit Sharma will look to lift another ICC title after clinching the T20 World Cup last year. It could be his last title for India. But for now, he becomes one of the most decorated Indian captains. Under Rohit’s leadership, India have reached finals of all three formats and all four ICC events: World Cup, T20 World Cup, WTC Final and Champions Trophy.
- ICC World Test Championship (2023)
- ODI World Cup (2023)
- T20 World Cup (2024)
- ICC Champions Trophy (2025)
A win on Sunday will make him only the second captain after MS Dhoni to lift two ICC titles. Dhoni won the T20 World Cup, World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy. Rohit can make it two in his career.
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