Shubman Gill Dismisses Retirement Talks On Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Ahead Of Champions Trophy Final: ‘No Discussion In Dressing Room’

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As India gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on Sunday, speculation continues over the ODI future of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Following their retirement from T20Is after India's T20 World Cup victory last year, discussions about their longevity in the 50-over format have gained momentum. However, vice-captain Shubman Gill downplayed these rumors, asserting that no such conversations are happening within the team.

"There is no talk about retirement in the dressing room, now," Gill stated during the pre-match press conference.

Both Kohli and Rohit have played pivotal roles in guiding India to the final. While Kohli has notched up a century in the tournament, Rohit has set the tone at the top with his aggressive starts, despite missing out on a big score. Gill also highlighted India's batting strength ahead of the summit clash.

"This is the best batting line-up I am part of. Rohit is one of the best openers (in the world) and Virat, we need not tell about him. But our team has depth in batting and that allows the top order to bat with bit more freedom," he explained.

Expressing the team's hunger for victory, Gill emphasized the importance of handling pressure in high-stakes encounters.

"We are all excited for the final. Last time we could not win the 50-over World Cup, but we are determined to win this time. There will be big match pressure, but whichever team deals with it better will win the final. We just need to take it like any other match, and good teams will do that. We have played four matches here and done well, so there is no added pressure on us," he added.

With the final set to take place in Dubai, India will look to cap off their unbeaten run with another major ICC trophy.