Champions Trophy 2025: In an interview with India Today, Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Rohit Sharma for mixing caution with aggression and helping India beat New Zealand in the final on Sunday in Dubai.
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00:00Hello and welcome to Battle of Champions. I'm sure you can hear the fireworks, the excitement, the screams of the fans
00:08because I'm coming to you live from the Dubai International Stadium.
00:13There is fireworks all around me, unfortunately cannot be caught on the camera
00:18but that is exactly what we're witnessing at the moment.
00:21History in the making, 7th ICC title for the Indian team
00:26and currently they are champions in two formats.
00:29In the 50-over format in what we call the mini World Cup
00:32and of course you know they are the world champions in the T20 format.
00:36So at the moment complete prominence by the Indian team in white ball format.
00:40I'm delighted to be joined by Mr. Sunil Gavaskar
00:43who knows what it feels like to be holding an ICC trophy.
00:47He is a World Cup winner himself.
00:49But Sahil, is it fair to say at the moment they missed the 50-over World Cup title
00:55but I'm still taking this big call and tell me if I'm correct or not.
00:59Is India the best white ball team on the planet?
01:03Without a question.
01:04Any team that gets in all the three finals, the 50-over finals, World Cup finals, the T20 winners
01:10and now the champions trophy, without a question they have to be the best white ball team on the planet.
01:16No doubt whatsoever about that.
01:19It was my trip as Dr. Kapil said.
01:22But look, to be able to get in all the finals at home, there was no home advantage in all the other places.
01:29Yet India won.
01:30So clearly I think India without a question is the best white ball team at the moment in the world.
01:37Okay, as Mr. Gavaskar here puts it so accurately, perfectly, the best white ball team on the planet
01:45because remember, they are the champions in T20 cricket and now in the 50-over format as well.
01:51This particular final, Sahil, be honest, you had your heart in your mouth, chewing your nails because it was a close contest.
02:00Well, I wasn't chewing my nails but I certainly was a little bit concerned
02:03because after Rohit Sharma got out, India lost three wickets.
02:10There were still about 130 runs to get, so it wasn't going to be easy.
02:16But we needed a partner, which is exactly what Shreyas Iyer and Akshar Patel provided.
02:20So that steadied the ship, but still there was plenty to be done.
02:24And that is what Rahul and Akshar Patel to an extent did, and Rahul and Aditya Pandya did.
02:29Now what that shows is the depth of talent that India has in the battle as well as in the ball.
02:36In the ball, in the variety that was there, because a lot of the other teams struggled with their fifth bowler.
02:42India didn't have a problem, they had to in fact think who not to give the ball to.
02:47Because they had six bowlers, so six of us bowlers.
02:50That is where the all-round strength of the Indian team was seen and that is what has done at this time.
02:56Okay, I'm going to show you the Dubai skyline and while I show you the skyline, I'm going to move a little bit
03:03because there is a lot of noise around me.
03:06So this is the Dubai skyline and we were seeing a few fireworks going up in the sky a short while ago.
03:14The firework display is over, but our discussion here on India Today continues.
03:19Sunil Gavaskar still with me as we bring you all the very latest from here in Dubai.
03:26I can hear all the dhols and everything being played because we've got visuals from across the country coming in.
03:32We're right now still sticking with this encounter and what a close encounter it was.
03:36Let's start from India's chase, Rohit Sharma.
03:40When you see him bat like this, he gets you those 76 runs, which now is clearly the man of the match winning performance.
03:46And you wonder, if he can only mix caution with aggression, he'll win you every single game.
03:52Because he's got all the shots in the book.
03:55If he can just marry it with the patience that he showed when he was starting out.
03:59Remember, he batted a whole 50 overs innings to get 264 out to the last ball of the innings.
04:04Yesterday we were talking, I said if he bats for 25 overs, India will be 180-190.
04:13But he gave the Indian team a start.
04:16And for the final, the captain playing a century plus innings means he really has lifted the trophy on his own shoulders.
04:26That would have been fantastic.
04:28Still, India winning is just incredibly satisfying.
04:34Because there were occasions when you thought, what is the Indian team going to do?
04:39Because against the Australian, they looked a little bit iffy towards the end, even here.
04:44But the way they showed their temperament, fantastic.
04:47This has been an enjoyable win.
04:50Two close games, semi-final and final, that's exactly what you want.
04:53That's where your temperament is tested.
04:55That's where your skill level is tested.
04:57And the Indians came through with flying colours.
05:00What does this mean also for Indian cricket, Sunny bhai?
05:03And why I ask you that question.
05:05Indian cricket, and we were talking about Rohit Sharma, went through a bit of a tough time.
05:09You lost to the same team which you've beaten here in the final in a test series at home.
05:13You went to Australia, could not retain the Borda Gavaskar trophy.
05:17I know different format.
05:19But Indian cricket needed a lift.
05:21Is this the lift that Indian cricket needed?
05:23Definitely, yes.
05:24I think because it needed, after what happened in Australia, what happened before that in India.
05:27Which was far more disappointing than what happened in Australia.
05:30So clearly, I think Indian cricket needed that lift.
05:33And this victory has provided just the flip that it needed.
05:37I'm going to go back to the Rohit Sharma subject.
05:40Before this game was starting, there were talks whether this could be his last ODI for India.
05:46Because I think now the ODI that they're going to play is only December.
05:50Next ODI that India plays.
05:52And then of course you have the World Cup which is two years away.
05:55Looking at his form, looking at the way he marshals his troop, the captain that he is.
05:59Now two white ball titles.
06:01What do you reckon?
06:02Would you like for him to continue?
06:04I know it's his decision.
06:05But would you like for him to continue?
06:07Or do you think this is the perfect time?
06:09I think this is the perfect time.
06:10But what is likely to happen is that the selection committee will have a sit down with him.
06:18And ask him what his take on the future is.
06:22Because what they would like to do is at the moment is look to plan ahead for the 27 World Cup.
06:28And so that is now two years down the road.
06:30Two and a half years down the road.
06:31So clearly I think they will want to ask him, look, do you think you'll be able to play till…
06:36It will mean he'll be 40 years old when that happens.
06:39So that is the kind of discussion that is likely to take place between the selection committee and Rohit Sharma.
06:46So it's a tough one.
06:48We all think that we can go on.
06:50We all think that we can carry on.
06:52But you want to know if he's enjoying it.
06:55If he's enjoying the responsibility.
06:57If he's enjoying the little tension of being a captain and finding things not really always going your way.
07:01Then you want to carry on.
07:03But if you're not enjoying it.
07:04If it is just getting a little too much.
07:05Then you want to say, okay, thank you guys.
07:07I've had enough.
07:08Whether he carries on or not.
07:10I'm already talking about his legacy.
07:12I said, you know, seventh ICC title.
07:15Most captains have only won one.
07:17There is only one MS Dhoni.
07:19You know, that had three.
07:21Now in that elite list, right behind him, Rohit Sharma with two.
07:24Yes.
07:25I mean, that was even in the IPL, he's got as captain.
07:31So his leadership, there's no question about his leadership qualities.
07:34And now just behind MS Dhoni with two ICC titles.
07:40Just tells you how wonderful a leader he's been for the Indian cricket team.
07:44Even if he is to walk away right now.
07:47Do you think one of the things he leaves behind is the positive intent with which the Indian team is playing?
07:53We saw that in T20 cricket.
07:55This slightly changed it.
07:56And he was the one who was leading from the front.
07:58And the new team is only carrying that thing forward in the young T20 team.
08:01You think even now, if he was to walk away from the ODI format.
08:04This new mindset of fearless cricket that he has initiated.
08:08Even as captain, he's walking the talk.
08:10That's that one legacy he leaves behind?
08:12I'm sure that will be the case.
08:14But don't forget, there's only one Rohit Sharma.
08:17So Rohit Sharma was the one who could do it.
08:19And do it, you know, pretty regularly.
08:22Whether his replacement and at the top of the order, one and two.
08:26Is going to be able to replicate that, we don't know.
08:29So because he was able to do it himself.
08:32Even in the final against Australia at Ahmedabad.
08:35He got a 40 in no time.
08:39But whoever replaces him, is going to be able to do that?
08:42We don't know.
08:43But even if they do, even 75% of what he's doing.
08:46They'll be getting the team off to a very good start.
08:48I know it's a mood question now.
08:49But since you talk about that Ahmedabad game.
08:51If that caution with aggression, Rohit Sharma was there.
08:55Maybe we would have had the 50 over title as well.
08:57Yes.
08:58But look, sometimes this is not what happens.
09:02Sometimes the gods above want you to be brought down to earth.
09:06Remember, we had the 2007 T20 World Cup.
09:09We had the 2011 50 over the ICC World Cup.
09:12And we also had the 2013 Champions Trophy.
09:17So we had three of the major trophies.
09:19And if we had got round to winning the 2014 T20 World Cup.
09:24Which we lost in the final.
09:25Then we would have had just an incredible thing with MS Dhoni.
09:29With him having won all these trophies.
09:32And India being the number one team in Test cricket as well.
09:36Talk us through the supporting cast.
09:39Because that's another standout feature.
09:40And we've seen every time a team wins a World Cup like event.
09:44There has to be multiple heroes.
09:45And that's exactly what we've seen.
09:47Three names that come to my mind right now.
09:49One of Akshar Patel.
09:51He's picked up wickets.
09:52Must be in the top 15 wicket takers.
09:54He's got some runs.
09:55Must be in probably top 15 run getters as well.
09:58Shreyas Iyer.
09:59Second highest run getter of this tournament.
10:01And remember, he's not an opener.
10:02Rachin Ravindra has gone ahead.
10:03One inning less.
10:04But an opener.
10:05Or you at least get one, two or three.
10:07He's still coming down the order.
10:08And getting you those tough runs.
10:10Third one, KL Rahul.
10:11Till the start of the tournament was quiet.
10:13Now the semi-final.
10:15And the finalists played two crucial roles.
10:17Tell us about these three players and their supporting role.
10:19And don't forget Varun Chakravarthy and Virat Kohli.
10:21Yes, I was going to get to the bowlers.
10:22Another question for them.
10:23No, Virat Kohli as well as a matter.
10:25I mean he scored a 100 and then he got a 85.
10:27So, it just tells you.
10:28That look, when it was needed, he held the team together.
10:32At a time when the top order had not delivered.
10:35So, I mean all these players.
10:38If you have a situation where 5-6 players have been match winners for you.
10:41Then it's bound to be that your team is going to go on to win.
10:44Because you always have somebody or the other.
10:46Who is going to be able to bring the team out from a tricky situation.
10:52Varun Chakravarthy has bowled well.
10:54Shreyas Iyer, the way he kept his cool.
10:56Akshay Patel as well.
10:57You know maybe a shot was a little.
11:00I know I wasn't very happy with the shot.
11:02While I was in commentary.
11:04But he is back at well.
11:05He has bowled well.
11:06And the run out he had in the first game.
11:09So, clearly I think it just tells you.
11:11That here is another cricketer.
11:14Who can be relied on.
11:16Relied on because you know.
11:17In a situation where it is needed to keep your head.
11:20He did keep his head.
11:22He can sometimes get a bit carried away.
11:25And play a shot like he did today.
11:27This really is not the easiest of shots to play.
11:30Because you know.
11:31This is a flow.
11:33Here your arm gets just a little bit locked.
11:36Otherwise he would have finished the match.
11:38He would have been unbeaten.
11:39He would have got a half century as well.
11:41But never mind.
11:42I think overall he has done magnificently.
11:44These are the guys who have done exceedingly well.
11:48And that augurs also superbly for India in the future.
11:51That all these players have still got plenty of years left in international history.
11:56I have the toughest question for you now.
11:58Who is your man of the tournament?
12:00There is a contender in Virat Kohli.
12:02There is a contender in Shreyas Iyer.
12:04Maybe Akshar Patel or Varun Chakravorty.
12:07Less games.
12:08Too many.
12:09Rohit Sharma with that knock.
12:10You do the tough job.
12:12I would imagine that I think it will be a tough one.
12:15Between say Virat Kohli.
12:18Varun Chakravorty.
12:21And Akshar Patel as well.
12:23So all these players have done exceedingly well.
12:26Very, very tough.
12:29Like I said.
12:30And of course not to forget Rohit Sharma's captaincy.
12:32See, that's how tough it is.
12:34That's how tough it is.
12:35You can't really put.
12:36If you had to cast a vote, who are you casting for?
12:37Now the tough bit.
12:40I am not a selection.
12:42I am just so happy that India has won.
12:44I would give anybody the player of the tournament.
12:47You just want the trophy.
12:49The trophy to come to India.
12:50But that's all.
12:51That's the only thing.
12:53And I am so happy that it has happened.
12:55It is coming back after a big gap of 12 years.
12:58You must remember that as well.
12:59Champions trophy.
13:00We have the heartbreak.
13:01We were runners up in the last one that was played.
13:03So, you know what I mean.
13:05India has done well in this champions trophy.
13:07Previously also 2002.
13:09It was because of the rain.
13:10We were joint holders.
13:11So this champions trophy.
13:13India really has been an outstanding team.
13:15Does it take, and I am asking you as a fan.
13:17Does it take away from that pain of 19th November?
13:2150 over world cup final.
13:23No, I don't think so.
13:24That's something else.
13:25That is something else.
13:27Winning in front of your home crowd is something different.
13:33Just imagine more than 100,000 people there.
13:36At the Narendra Modi stadium.
13:38How it would have been.
13:40The noise.
13:42The noise if India had won.
13:44Would have reached the skies somewhere.
13:46Which would have reached maybe Mars.
13:48And Venus.
13:49It would have been such an expression of joy.
13:53If India had won over there.
13:54But never mind.
13:582031 the world cup is in India.
14:012031.
14:02Finally before I let you go.
14:04I want to remind our viewers one thing.
14:06We have won this tournament.
14:08Without the biggest match winner on the planet.
14:11His name is Jasprit Bumrah.
14:12Missed that tournament because of an injury.
14:14I want to know.
14:15You can't really replace Jasprit Bumrah and the impact that he has.
14:18But can Varun Chakraborty or was Varun Chakraborty that X factor that came in?
14:23Yes.
14:24Because the way he bowled.
14:26Nobody conquered him.
14:28And therefore that is the reason why.
14:30That is the reason why.
14:32The middle overs where India was struggling in the earlier matches.
14:36They were able to get wickets.
14:37They were able to put the brakes on the opposition.
14:39Alright.
14:40We leave Mr. Gavaskar now.
14:42He has to go to our sister channel.
14:44Thank you so much for joining us.
14:46Sharing your joy with our viewers as well.
14:48And just like you I am sure all of them are very happy and excited.