With Jos Buttler stepping down from the role after a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign, the search is on for England's new white-ball captain. While several names are in contention, Joe Root - the most experienced member of the squad - has ruled himself out for the role.
According to sources close to Bangladesh Mustafizur Rahman and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), an old shoulder injury has resurfaced for the left-arm pacer who had been on a break since playing the Champions Trophy.
The BCCI, the world's richest cricket board, announced an additional 580 million rupees for the players, support staff and members of the selection committee for their latest success in an International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament.
Over the last three ICC events, India have lost just one match -- the 2023 ODI World Cup final -- leading many to argue that they hardly needed what some have termed an “unfair advantage” of playing exclusively in Dubai.
Rohit was full of praise for Rahul's composure at the sharp end of the nerve-shredding chases."Look, when we discussed KL's batting position, that is one thing we discussed quite deeply about how calm he is when he is batting," Rohit said after guiding India to a third Champions Trophy crown.
The absence of PCB representatives was particularly glaring as ICC Chairman Jay Shah handed the coveted trophy to India’s victorious captain, Rohit Sharma, while BCCI President Roger Binny and secretary Devajit Saikia were present on the podium. This raised questions over whether PCB officials were deliberately sidelined or if internal board decisions led to their no-show.
In the grand finale against New Zealand, it was Rohit Sharma who led the charge with an authoritative knock, ensuring India’s successful chase. His composure under pressure set the stage for an emphatic victory.
New Zealand went down to India by four wickets in the title-decider in Dubai on Sunday, suffering a fourth loss in four short-format global finals over the last decade.
India won the Champions Trophy overcoming a plucky New Zealand by four wickets in a nervy final to cap their unbeaten campaign in the elite 50-overs tournament on Sunday.
"I want to clarify that I am not going anywhere, I am not retiring from this format," Rohit told reporters at the end of a long post-match press conference at the Dubai International Stadium.
According to broadcasters, the average turn was only 2.0 degrees on Sunday during New Zealand innings, the lowest in all five matches played so far in Dubai.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.
This year, India are the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having won all four of their matches, including a victory over New Zealand in their final group game. Yet, Gill and Co will remember the heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final following a winning streak of ten matches.
India, who refused to play in host nation Pakistan, have produced clinical performances to win all four of their matches in the United Arab Emirates, including a 44-run group-stage victory over the Black Caps last weekend.
Two ICC heavyweights, India and New Zealand, will duel for silverware, looking to be crowned the first Champions Trophy winner since Pakistan claimed the prize back in 2017.
Both teams have showcased exceptional skill and resilience throughout the tournament, making this showdown a fitting climax to the eight-nation competition.
For New Zealand, the emergence of Ravindra as a formidable top-order batter has been a revelation
The Black Caps must now pack their bags for Sunday's final in Dubai, where India have played all their matches in the tournament because of their refusal to go to Pakistan.
The haphazard scheduling was a result of India playing all their games in Dubai after refusing to travel to tournament hosts Pakistan for political reasons.
