India vs Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma Praises Shubman Gill & Mohammed Shami, Says Team ‘Assessed the Conditions Well’ in Champions Trophy 2025

India vs Bangladesh: India began their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a clinical six-wicket victory over Bangladesh on February 20, showcasing both their batting strength and bowling firepower.

Shubman Gill’s unbeaten century anchored the chase, while Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul dismantled Bangladesh’s batting order. Despite some resistance from Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali, India controlled the match for the most part, asserting their dominance early in the tournament.

Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front, adding crucial runs at the top before India comfortably chased down the target. Post-match, he reflected on the team's performance, praising Gill’s composed innings, Shami’s match-winning spell, and the team’s ability to handle pressure. He also spoke about dropping Jaker Ali, maintaining a humorous tone about the incident.

Confidence and Handling Pressure

Rohit emphasised the importance of confidence before stepping onto the field. "Before you come and play, you got to be confident. As the game goes on, there are different emotions that come through. But there is a lot of experience in that dressing room," he said, underlining India’s composure in high-pressure situations.

Praise for Shubman Gill and KL Rahul

The Indian captain credited the batting duo of Gill and KL Rahul for assessing the conditions well. "Gill and KL played really well. We assessed the conditions well as a team," he noted. After the quick wickets of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, Rahul and Gill formed a strong unbeaten partnership of 89 runs from 98 balls, ultimately securing the win for India.

Rohit also acknowledged the nature of the pitch but refrained from drawing conclusions too early. "Very hard to say that (on pitch playing slow) after just one game. You play the conditions and try and think about what you do."

On Mohammed Shami and Shubman Gill’s Impact in India vs Bangladesh

The Indian skipper was particularly pleased with Mohammed Shami’s performance, as the pacer claimed a crucial five-wicket haul after a long injury-forced sabbatical from international cricket.

"Very happy for him, long time waiting,” Rohit said. “We know what he brings to us. We need guys like him to stand up when we need.”

Shubman Gill’s unbeaten century was a major factor in India’s win, and Rohit was not surprised by his brilliance. "Gill, we know the class that he has, shouldn't surprise anyone. It was good to see him bat till the end," he said, appreciating the young opener’s ability to anchor the chase.

On Dropping Jaker Ali

Rohit Sharma did not shy away from addressing his dropped catch of Jaker Ali in the post-match presentation, acknowledging that he should have taken it given his own high fielding standards.

"No, that was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch with the standards I have set for myself. But I do know these things are bound to happen," he admitted. The drop, however, had significant consequences. It came at a crucial juncture when Axar Patel was on a hat-trick, and had Rohit held on, Bangladesh would have been struggling at 35/6.

Instead, Jaker Ali, the beneficiary of the missed chance, went on to forge a 154-run stand with Towhid Hridoy, lifting Bangladesh to a respectable total. The lapse in the field was part of a larger trend for India, as the team missed further opportunities, allowing Bangladesh to stretch their innings longer than expected.

Looking Ahead for India in Champions Trophy 2025

Regarding the pitch conditions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the next game, Rohit was uncertain but predicted a similar surface. "Not sure, but it will be pretty much similar, I guess. I am not the curator here to tell you how exactly it will play, but looks like it with the way the games have been played here," he said.

India’s dominant performance against Bangladesh sets them up strongly for the next match in the Champions Trophy 2025, with Rohit’s leadership and the team’s key performances making a strong statement.