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As India prepares for their high-voltage ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Pakistan, vice-captain Shubman Gill revealed that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant missed the practice session due to viral fever. With the crucial encounter set to take place on Sunday, Pant’s absence has raised concerns over his availability for the high-stakes match.
The India-Pakistan match holds immense significance for both sides. While Pakistan aims to keep their title defense alive, India will look to solidify their semifinal berth. This encounter also serves as an opportunity for India to avenge their 2017 Champions Trophy final defeat, where they suffered a crushing 180-run loss to Pakistan.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gill addressed Pant’s condition, stating, “Firstly, Rishabh is, I think, down with viral; that is why he did not come for practice.” While Pant’s participation remains uncertain, the Indian camp will be hoping for a swift recovery as they gear up for the intense showdown.
Gill also shared insights into his role as vice-captain, emphasizing his efforts to keep non-playing members in good spirits. “Those are the kinds of conversations that I have with them whenever I get the chance or if I see someone feeling a little low or lacking in something. I talk to them and have those conversations,” he said.
Despite his leadership role, Gill maintained that his approach to batting remains unchanged. “Because I feel that is when – or that’s what brings the best out of me. So, whenever I am batting out there, I’m just playing however I would play, irrespective of if I am the vice-captain or not,” he added.
Most Awaited Match
Regarding the much-anticipated contest, Gill noted that the team is treating the match like any other, focusing on preparation and execution. “This is how we prepare for any match that we play. So that is how we are going to prepare for this one as well,” he stated.
Assessing the Dubai pitch conditions, Gill highlighted the importance of adaptability, particularly in the middle overs between 11 to 40. “Dew did not come much during the campaign opener against Bangladesh, so it will be key to rotate the strike well,” he explained. He further added that India will evaluate the conditions before deciding on their aggressive playing style. “We do not have any particular target set in our mind. We usually go out there, see how the wicket is, and then try to get 15-20 runs more than what we think is the par score.”
When asked about the impact of the toss, Gill opined that it would not be a major factor unless dew played a role. “If dew comes, then toss is very important in a 50-over match. If we do not get dew, then I think it would not make much of a difference,” he said, adding that handling pressure will be key to success.
Reflecting on his personal form, Gill dismissed concerns about his struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he managed just 93 runs in five innings. “Sometimes, there is a mental aspect. We focus a lot on batting and think that if we are not getting runs, then there will be some fault in batting. But it is not necessary that there is always something wrong with batting. It is possible that there is a shortcoming in something else,” he concluded.
With both teams finalizing their strategies, India and Pakistan are set to deliver yet another thrilling contest in their storied cricketing rivalry.
India Squad for CT2025: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan Squad for CT2025: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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