Tag: Champions Trophy 2025

21Mar By source belowNo Comments

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‘Rohit Sharma’s Powerplay aggression is possible because he knows Virat Kohli can fix his mistakes’: Aaron Finch

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the cornerstones of India’s ODI batting for well over a decade. However, the change in approach that the current India captain and opener has embraced in the format has done wonders for India, who have won all but one match across three ICC limited-overs events in the 2023 ODI World Cup, last year’s T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai earlier this month. Former Australia captain Aaron Finch, however, believes that Rohit’s unfiltered aggression at the top is close to impossible without the cushion that Kohli offers at his favoured No. 3 spot in ODIs. Finch remarked that Rohit’s batting is fraught with numerous risks in the Powerplay and that the 37-year-old continues to hold onto the method knowing that Kohli has got his back. “When yo...

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14Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Ricky Ponting credits Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya for India’s Champions Trophy triumph

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has lauded India’s all-rounders trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Hardik Patel for their “outstanding” performance throughout the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was eventually won by the Rohit Sharma-led team. “Their all-rounders right through the tournament were outstanding,” Ponting said on the latest edition of The ICC Review. “(Ravindra) Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, were all outstanding. I said at the start of the tournament I thought India would be really hard to beat because of their overall balance and because of that mix of youth and experience, and once again, in a final, the captain stands up and gets the job done for his team.” Story continues below this ad India’s Ravindra Jadeja hits the winning run against N...

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13Mar By source belowNo Comments

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How Rohit Sharma used his spinners as the trump card in Champions Trophy

In the final hour of New Zealand’s innings on Sunday, Rohit Sharma had the opportunity to hammer the spin nail down fully on the opposition to the last possible inch. An Axar Patel injury situation towards the end of the middle overs meant the Indian skipper had to factor in a couple of extra overs from the wobbly pace grid of Shami and Hardik Pandya at the death on the day. Though the left-arm spinner bowled another, Rohit held back Axar’s last two overs, perhaps because he had to play a crucial role with the bat at No. 5 too.The death overs yielded 79 runs, 58 of which came from five overs of pace. Despite the dawdle against spin for the majority of the innings, New Zealand had about enough to salvage a fight. Rohit’s marginal miss on a 40/40 of spin could have reared its head on another...

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12Mar By source belowNo Comments

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‘Happy to see him realise his potential’: Dilip Vengsarkar lauds Shreyas Iyer after Champions Trophy triumph

After a roller-coaster year when he won the IPL and was dropped from the BCCI central contracts at the same time, Indian middle order batter Shreyas Iyer played a vital role in the team’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign. Former India selector Dilip Vengsarkar was all praises for the current Punjab Kings’ captain, saying he has realised his potential. “Iyer did very well but I am not happy the way he got out in the final. He should have continued till the very end and finished the game. But happy to see him realise his potential. KL too played a few important innings at number six but still not convinced Axar Patel batting ahead of him at five. The left-hand right-hand combination could be the only reason,” Vengsarkar said. Iyer also finished second in the batting charts of the Champio...

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10Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli headlines six Indians in ICC’s ‘Team of the Tournament’

The talismanic Virat Kohli was the biggest name among six Indian players picked in the 12-member ‘Team of the Tournament’ for the Champions Trophy.India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final here on Sunday to win the tournament for the third time after 2002 (joint winners) and 2013. India have been runners-up twice in 2000 and 2017. Besides Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and pacer Mohammed Shami featured in the playing XI, while all-rounder Axar Patel was named the 12th man. Story continues below this ad The Black Caps have four members of their squad making the team, including Player of the Tournament Rachin Ravindra, with Mitchell Santner being named captain. The much-awaited Champions Trophy Team of the Tou...

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10Mar By source belowNo Comments

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‘I just wish Rohit Sharma had won this in Lahore’: Ajay Jadeja on India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja said had India won the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, it would have been an even more special win, beyond just the sports for the Men in Blue. India beat New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Ground on Sunday night and speaking on the Dressing Room show, the former India captain, Jadeja said, “I was just wishing that if India had won this in Lahore, it would’ve been even better. It would’ve been a victory beyond just the sport.” He also praised all the fans around the world for turning up for the global tournament. Story continues below this ad “Shoutout to the fans as well because every player that I’ve talked to who’s been there, they’ve enjoyed being there. The people of Pakistan have also ...

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10Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar share disappointment over absence of PCB official at CT 2025 final presentation

Former Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar expressed their disappointment due to the absence of Pakistani representation in the presentation ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai.   On Sunday, Rohit Sharma-led team India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final to lift their first 50-over ICC title in 12 years at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. There was no one from PCB or Pakistan’s cricket official presence in any form for the Champions Trophy final despite Pakistan being the host. Story continues below this ad “As far as I know, Chairman Saab (PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi) wasn’t well but the people that came from there (PCB) were Sumair Ahmad Syed (Chief Operating Officer of PCB) and Usman Wahla (Director of International fo...

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9Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Rohit Sharma says he’s ‘not going to retire from this format’ after India win Champions Trophy

India captain Rohit Sharma cleared the air on his rumoured retirement plans by telling journalists at the post-match press conference that he has no plans to retire. “One more thing: I’m not going to retire from this format. Just to make sure that no rumours are spread moving forward,” Rohit Sharma said at the end of the press conference on Sunday after he had guided India to its third Champions Trophy title. Thanks to a 76 from him at the top of the innings, India chased down New Zealand’s 252-run target with an over to spare and four wickets in hand. In the previous games, Rohit Sharma had been losing his wicket after getting starts for India as he tried to bully the opening bowlers of opposition teams. That approach clicked on Sunday in the final, when India needed it to work the most...

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9Mar By source belowNo Comments

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ICC Champions Trophy: Redemption for KL Rahul as crucial innings eases pain of World Cup final

He appeared calm on the outside right through his innings, but in a lighter moment after India won the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, KL Rahul had time for a joke. “I don’t think I should say this on camera, but I was sh***ng myself at the end there,” Rahul told Simon Doull. The wicketkeeper-batsman, however, was solid once again in a run-chase, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 33 balls as India won back-to-back ICC titles in Dubai on Sunday. “I was confident we could win. In moments like these, in big games, it’s about holding your composure. We all know that’s not easy, but I’m happy we won and got over the line this time. I have batted in situations like this in three of the five games. The games have given me good time in the middle and good preparation for big moments like this,” Rahul said. ...

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9Mar By source belowNo Comments

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‘Whether it’s Ronaldo, Messi or Djokovic…’: What Ravi Shastri said about Virat Kohli ahead of Champions Trophy final

Former India coach Ravi Shastri hailed Virat Kohli’s energy ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, saying that the Indian batsman had the kind of energy that was comparable to some of the top sportspeople in the world. Kohli has 217 runs in this ICC Champions Trophy but Shastri said that it was also his energy on the ground while fielding and his demeanour that was very sport friendly. “You know people (like to) watch sport when they watch a sportsman with energy,” Shastri said to the ICC Review. “Whether his name is (Cristiano) Ronaldo or it’s (Lionel) Messi or whether it’s a (Novak) Djokovic or whether it’s (Rafael) Nadal, that energy that they bring in – there’s a certain kind of charisma and it rubs off on other people. They want to watch this guy play.” Stor...

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8Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Despite several issues, Pak experts believe Champions Trophy a success, could pave way for more events

Despite three Champions Trophy matches in the country getting abandoned due to rain, fans losing interest after the national team's premature exit, excessive spending on revamping stadiums, a hybrid model and suffocating security measures, experts in Pakistan still believe the marquee event was a success and could open the doors for more international events. Pakistan hosted the Champions Trophy on a hybrid model after India refused to send its team to the country due to security concerns, and instead played all its matches in Dubai. While fans in Pakistan could not watch the arch-foes clash in one of the three refurbished venues in the country, they suffered a huge setback when Mohammad Rizwan's side was eliminated early after losing to New Zealand and India. On the security front, though...

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8Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Shubman Gill nominated for ICC Player of the Month for February

Shubman Gill in action during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal between India and Australia, in Dubai, UAE, on March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Riding on his superb performance in the ODI series against England last month, ace India top-order batter Shubman Gill has been nominated along with Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealand's Glenn Phillips for the ICC 'Player of the Month' for February.Gill, who is currently in Dubai with the Indian team for the ongoing Champions Trophy, scored 406 runs, averaging 101.50 at a strike-rate of 94.19 in the five ODIs that he had played in February.Gill hit a purple patch in the three-match series against England, scoring 87 (in Nagpur), 60 (in Cuttack), and 112 (in Ahmed...

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7Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Two days before the Champions Trophy final, what’s the mood in the finalists’ camp

Rawalpindi to Dubai. Dubai to Lahore. Lahore to Dubai. This has been New Zealand’s itinerary over the past week and having endured more travel than any other team in the Champions Trophy, the Black Caps chose to give their players a much needed rest on Friday ahead of their final against India this Sunday.While most teams opt for optional or light training on the eve of the match these days, New Zealand have chosen to train under lights on Saturday with India scheduled to practice from 3 PM. While there have been a lot of criticisms directed at the ICC for making the schedule to the comfort of India, the New Zealand coach echoed similar sentiments even though his players downplayed the whole episode. However, he did voice his concern about the hectic schedule. Apart from India who got to p...

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7Mar By source belowNo Comments

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ICC Safety and Security Manager Dave Musker thanks Pakistan police: The professionalism of the people I have been involved with is exceptional

Champions Trophy 2025 hosted by Pakistan came after 29 years amidst security concerns over the country. Pakistan’s leg of the tournament concluded the semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand in Lahore. The ICC Safety and Security Manager Dave Musker praised the arrangments and professionalism of the security during the tournament. “Just wanted to do a short video to thank all the Pakistani police. Police and the Army have been absolutely superb. Prior to the tournament, there were concerns over by visiting teams over to Pakistan. I personally had not doubts, the professionalism of the people I have been involved with is exceptional the cooperation and the respect I have been shown is amazing,” he said in a video,” Musker said. The country has organized comprehensive security team fo...

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7Mar By source belowNo Comments

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IND vs NZ final, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Varun Chakravarthy holds key for the match, says Gary Stead

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead feels that the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy holds the key for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 finals in Dubai on March 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: Getty Images New Zealand is sweating on the fitness of its pace spearhead, Matt Henry, ahead of Sunday’s (March 9, 2025) Champions Trophy final against India. Henry hurt his shoulder in the semifinal against South Africa in Lahore while taking a catch in the deep. The 33-year-old took a five-for against India in the league game last week at this venue and is a key player for the Kiwis as someone who can give breakthroughs with the new ball. “It was pretty uncomfortable. From our perspective, the positive thing was that he go...

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6Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie labels successor Aaqib Javed a ‘clown’

File picture of Jason Gillespie Former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie labelled his successor Aaqib Javed a "clown" and accused the former fast bowler of undermining him and ex-white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in order to take charge of the national team across all formats.Gillespie's comments were in reply to a social media post containing quotes from Javed a few days after hosts Pakistan had crashed out of the Champions Trophy without a win.Jason Gillespie's Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/2sYsS8Fzrq— 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞 (@CallMeSheri1) March 5, 2025Javed told reporters on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) that Pakistan had changed 16 coaches and 26 selectors in around two years and any side would struggle in such circumstances."This is hilarious," Australian Gillespie ...

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6Mar By source belowNo Comments

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‘Aaqib Javed is a clown’: Jason Gillespie slams Pakistan interim head coach for ‘campaigning’ for all-format role

Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie, who left his role as Pakistan’s Test head coach last December, slammed the current interim head coach Aaqib Javed for campaigning for the role across formats, labelling him a “clown” on a social media post. Gillespie’s reaction came on the back of Javed’s lament that the constant management and team personnel changes across formats hampered Pakistan’s performance across formats. Hosts of the ongoing Champions Trophy, Pakistan suffered a group-stage exit with defeats to New Zealand and India before their final game against Bangladesh was washed out. “We have changed nearly 16 coaches and 26 selectors in the last two years or so,” he was quoted as saying at a news conference to announce the latest overhaul of Pakistan’s limited-overs squads. “You put t...

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6Mar By source belowNo Comments

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India had no advantage staying in one city, we were outplayed: Steve Smith

Australia’s Steve Smith in action during the Champions Trophy semifinal clash against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters Unlike many who believed India had the advantage of staying in one city, Australia skipper Steve Smith did not use Rohit Sharma-led team's extended stay in Dubai as an excuse for their defeat in the Champions Trophy semifinals, conceding that a superior team "outplayed" them.Smith, who announced his retirement from the ODI format following Australia’s exit from the ICC event, said India played some really good cricket to emerge a winner on Tuesday.“I’m not buying into it (India’s familiarity with pitch and condition). India obv...

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6Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Kohli moves up to No. 4 in ODI rankings; Axar, Shami also make gains

Virat Kohli moved up a spot to reach fourth place in the ICC ODI rankings while Rohit Sharma dropped two positions to fifth. | Photo Credit: PTI India batting superstar Virat Kohli on Wednesday moved up a spot to reach fourth place in the ICC ODI rankings for batters after his match-winning 84 against Australia in Champions Trophy semifinal.Kohli’s rise, however, coincided with skipper Rohit Sharma dropping down two positions to fifth as South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen also moved up one spot to take the third.India vice-captain and opener Shubman Gill continues to hold the top spot followed by Pakistan’s Babar Azam at second.Among other Indians, spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel and pacer Mohammed Shami also ...

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5Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Steve Smith retires from ODI cricket after Champions Trophy exit

Australia’s Steve Smith celebrates his half-century during the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final cricket match between India and Australia in Dubai, UAE, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Two-time ODI World Cup winner and one of the modern cricket greats Steve Smith announced his retirement from one-day international cricket on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) after captaining Australia to a semi-final exit at the Champions Trophy.Also Read | Where does Steve Smith stand in Tests among the ‘Fab Four’?“Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup, so it feels like the right time to make way,” Smith said in a Cricket Australia statement.The Australian batter further added t...

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5Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Williamson has been a thorn for us, we have plans to stop him: South Africa skipper Bavuma

South Africa’s skipper Temba Bavuma speaks during a press conference regarding their semifinal match against New Zealand, in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 4, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP Kane Williamson has proved to be a thorn in our flesh, said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma on Tuesday, adding that his team has outlined plans to stop the New Zealand batting mainstay in the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy here.Williamson, who scored 81 in a losing cause against India in the final league match, has hit centuries in his last two ODIs against South Africa, including an unbeaten 133 in Lahore last month during the tri-nation series.“Yes, he (Williamson) has been a thorn in our side and we have some plans...

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5Mar By source belowNo Comments

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ICC Champions Trophy: Amidst speculation about his future, Virat Kohli shows what makes him a chase-master in ODIs

Where would India be without Virat Kohli in this ICC Champions Trophy? As they got one step closer to becoming the most successful team in the tournament’s history, for the second time in this edition, Kohli mastered a chase.Unlike the game against Pakistan where he remained unbeaten on 100, there was no century to show against Australia in Tuesday’s semi-final. But his 84 was an innings that sent a strong reminder to the world that Kohli isn’t going anywhere for now. If anything, with such knocks under pressure in the most challenging of conditions, he seems to be indicating a second wind in his career. Truth be told, Kohli looked all over the place in the first game against Bangladesh, who were able to pin him to the crease. After that knock, he trained for extra hours at the nets, facin...

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4Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Heinrich Klaasen: ‘Strong man with pure technique’, a dangerous power-hitting machine who can clear boundaries at will

Jofra Archer might well have been wondering what he could have done differently when a couple of good-length deliveries were caressed through the off-side by Heinrich Klaasen for boundaries. There was nothing wrong with the deliveries; it was fast bowling manual 1-0-1 where Archer hit the top of the off-stump, but they were just not enough to contain Klaasen. South Africa will be facing New Zealand in the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy. The Kiwi attack, along with some skilful new-ball bowlers, also possess some canny accurate finger spinners who have troubled the batting line-ups in this tournament thus far. For South Africa to have an edge in the middle overs, Klaasen’s ability to hit good balls for boundaries will be the key. ”He’s a strong man but also backs it up with pure ...

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3Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Champions Trophy: How Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma are the faces of India’s risk management

As pitches in Dubai seem to be getting slower with each outing, all eyes are on the Indian spinners. However, for India to go the distance a lot is riding on the batting unit, which so far has adapted exceptionally to the sort of tracks that have been their biggest undoing in recent times. With a century each to Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, they have two in-form batsmen in the top three to go with Rohit Sharma to provide rapid starts. In the middle overs where they need to be flexible with their approach against spinners, they have a solid middle-order which includes an enforcer in Shreyas Iyer and two busy players in Axar Patel and KL Rahul before the finishing job is handed over to Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. This is as good a top 8 as a team could get in these conditions where b...

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3Mar By source belowNo Comments

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India-Australia CT semifinals: ‘Need to approach the game like last three games’ said Rohit

Varun Chakravarthy and India’s captain Rohit Sharma celebrate the wicket of New Zealand’s captain Mitch Santner during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday (March 2, 2025). | Photo Credit: AP Rohit Sharma hinted that the team could play four spinners against Australia in the semifinals, as it did against New Zealand on Sunday (March 2, 2025). Varun Chakaravarthy replaced Harshit Rana for the game and made a case for including him in the knockout fixture as well by scalping his maiden five-wicket haul (in ODIs).“We really need to think, even if we want to play four spinners, how we can squeeze four spi...

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3Mar By source belowNo Comments

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Champions Trophy: Pressure will be on both teams, says Rohit Sharma ahead of India’s semifinal clash vs Australia

India skipper Rohit Sharma on Monday said that they are going to approach the semifinal match against Australia just like they did in the last three matches in the Champions Trophy, dismissing that there’s any added pressure. India have a pretty dismal record against the Australians when it comes to ICC knockout encounters with the Men in Blue last defeating the Aussies in the 2011 World Cup quarterfinals. “Look, they are a great opposition to play against. All we had to do is what we have been thinking about the last three games and we have to approach that game in a similar fashion. We understand the opposition and how they play and stuff like that,” Rohit said in the pre-match press conference. “We will expect some nervy times as well in the middle. But that is how the game is being pla...

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