Champions Trophy 2025: Three cheers for Rohit Sharma and Team India | Opinion

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Team India are the best in white ball cricket. There can be no doubts any longer. On Sunday night, skipper Rohit Sharma did the star turn as he batted in a cavalier fashion to script a sensational win in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy Final.

To beat the sturdy Kiwis black and blue under high pressure was not easy. Riled and ridiculed for being fat, not scoring runs and much more, Rohit deserves a lot of kudos for leading in this campaign. Also Read: Champions Trophy Winners List Of All Editions

Sample this, Rohit was hauled over coals in Australia when India lost the BGT Series. He almost threatened to quit. Then came an explosive TV interview where Rohit said he was not leaving, in Sydney. For all those who have been unkind to India, and its two stars, Rohit and Virat Kohli, what they have done for India in the Champions Trophy has been top class.

Kohli did not score on Sunday but Rohit was belligerent and bold. The way he batted, it looked like he was on a mission, attack, destroy and smash the bowlers. This kind of batting from Rohit is a template. Damn, he invoked fear, smashing sixes and also hitting fours in Power Play. This was power and poise as Rohit showed to one and all how big a player he is in white ball cricket.

For all the pressure on Rohit and even Sunil Gavaskar saying he should be there for 20 overs at least, what Rohit has done is a class act. He batted and he led the team like a Field Marshal. The beauty is used the bowlers so well.

Varun Chakravarthy is the real dude, a hot star. But the man who bowled with venom was Kuldeep Yadav, who took two wickets. Once the Indian spin foursome had done the damage, it was a challenge for the batters.

There has been more than a joke that Rohit losing tosses non-stop with the coin is a bit like the drama in the cult Bollywood movie 'Sholay'. However, even if he lost the toss, he ensured the team would toss the Kiwis out of the Dubai stadium. Firecrackers lit the sky and the decibel level was crazy as celebrations began in the desert.

Dubai had become the beehive of activity for. People started partying as this win was sweet. Where does this knock of Rohit rank? Certainly at the top since he has faced so much flak. He knows, to be at the top of his game in white ball is a boon for India.

He led the Indian team to the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. Within nine months, to land India another ICC Trophy is magical. Before anyone says 'is he the greatest captain?', let's pause and celebrate. Rohit deserves praise and so do all the team members, coach Gautam Gambhir included.