Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and so hungry, they got to play a massive role in Champions Trophy: Gautam Gambhir

With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 fast approaching, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir is confident of Indian star senior duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s impressive performance in the mega event, scheduled to start on February 19.

In the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, both senior batters looked in poor form, failing to create an impact throughout the Test series. Nevertheless, Gambhir asserted that the duo is hungry to represent the country and deliver good results.

"I think both Rohit and Virat, they add so much value to the dressing room. They add so much value to Indian cricket as well. They've got to play a massive role (in the Champions Trophy). And I've said it before as well, those guys are so hungry, they want to play for the country. They have the passion to play for the country and deliver for the country," Gautam Gambhir said at the BCCI Naman Awards.

India will play three games in the group stage of the showpiece event. Men In Blue will start their campaign with Bangladesh on February 20. Later, they will take on arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 and against New Zealand on March 2.

"Champions Trophy is a completely different challenge as compared to the 50-over World Cup because literally every game is a make-or-break, so you can't stop anywhere in this tournament. So hopefully we're going to start off really well, because ultimately, if you want to go on and win the competition, you have to win five games," he added.

While all other teams play their games in Pakistan, India has got special permission from the ICC to have its games in Dubai. If India makes it to the semi-finals or finals, the knockouts will also be scheduled in Dubai.

"Look, we don't go to the Champions Trophy thinking that the 23rd is the most important game for us. I think five games, all the games are important. The mission to go to Dubai is to win the Champions Trophy, not only win one particular game. But yes, if that is one game in the middle of winning the Champions Trophy, we're going to try and take it as seriously as possible. And more importantly, I think when two countries, India and Pakistan, play against each other, obviously the emotions are really high, but ultimately the contest remains the same," Gambhir concluded.

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