The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced India’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, naming Rohit Sharma as captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain.
However, reports suggest a divergence of opinion between head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma during discussions over the squad.
While Shubman Gill was chosen as Rohit’s deputy, reports indicate that Gambhir favored Hardik Pandya for the role. Ultimately, Rohit and chief selector Ajit Agarkar decided on Gill.
Additionally, Gambhir reportedly advocated for including Sanju Samson in the squad, but Rohit preferred Rishabh Pant as the primary wicketkeeper.
Following India’s loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, rumors emerged about leaked discussions involving the team’s dressing room and review meetings.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali weighed in on the issue, emphasizing the negative impact of such leaks on team unity and advising Gambhir to address the matter internally.
“Sarfaraz Khan was blamed for leaking dressing room conversations to the media, and now even the review meeting details are out in the open. This isn’t good for the team as it disrupts unity,” Basit Ali shared. He urged Gambhir to ensure there’s no blame game within the squad.
Ali also noted the importance of India’s upcoming matches against England as preparation for the Champions Trophy.
“Winning against England would boost confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy, but a loss could affect the team’s morale,” he added.
As India gears up for the high-stakes tournament, the spotlight remains on how the team management resolves internal differences and strengthens its focus on upcoming challenges.