Vice-captain praises squad depth as India aims for ICC glory against New Zealand in Dubai
Dubai [UAE], March 9 – As India prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, vice-captain Shubman Gill has declared that the current Indian batting lineup is the strongest he has ever been part of.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gill praised the presence of legendary batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while also highlighting the depth in India’s middle order, which allows the top-order to play with more freedom.
“I think this is the best batting lineup that I have been part of personally. Rohit and Virat are all-time one-day greats. Rohit is one of the best openers in white-ball cricket, and Virat is one of the best ODI batsmen ever,” Gill stated.
Strength in Depth – The Key to India’s Success
Gill further emphasized how the in-form middle order, featuring Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja, has bolstered the team’s batting.
“With players like Shreyas in great form, KL, Hardik, and Jaddu, we have so much batting depth. It allows us top-order batters to play more freely,” he added.
Reflecting on past struggles, Gill acknowledged that a lack of batting depth had previously put pressure on the top order, forcing them to bat cautiously. However, with this squad, he believes India now has the balance to dominate opposition bowling attacks.
“Earlier, we struggled with batting depth, and there was more pressure on top-order batsmen to score big. But now, we have the freedom to play our natural game,” he explained.
India vs. New Zealand – A High-Stakes Final
With India unbeaten in the tournament and New Zealand showcasing solid form under Mitchell Santner, the final is expected to be a thrilling contest. This match also serves as a sequel to the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, where New Zealand defeated India to claim their first ICC title.
India will also be looking to avenge past heartbreaks against New Zealand, including losses in the 2019 ICC World Cup semifinal and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.
Recent Form and Key Players
In their group-stage clash, India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 79 off 98 balls, while Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul dismantled the Kiwis’ batting order. On the other hand, Matt Henry was the standout performer for New Zealand, picking up 5/42 in a valiant effort.
With both teams bringing their A-game to the final, all eyes will be on India’s formidable batting lineup and New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack.
Squads for the Final
India:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand:
Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham (w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O’Rourke, Daryl Mitchell, Nathan Smith, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy.
With India’s batting strength and New Zealand’s strategic gameplay, the Champions Trophy final promises to be an unforgettable showdown.
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