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Team India continued their dominant run in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, securing a four-wicket win over Australia in the first semi-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (March 4). Despite remaining unbeaten in the tournament so far, head coach Gautam Gambhir believes that his team is yet to deliver a “perfect game.”
Table of content
- 1 Gambhir Calls for Ruthlessness on the Field, Humility Off It
- 2 Tactical Changes: Axar at No. 5, KL Rahul at No. 6
- 3 Champions Trophy Final Takes Priority Over Long-Term Plans
- 4 Gambhir Praises Team’s Professional Chase Against Australia
- 5 India Eyes Champions Trophy Glory on March 9
- 6 Share this:
- 7 Like this:
- 8 Related
Gambhir Calls for Ruthlessness on the Field, Humility Off It
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir stressed that constant improvement is key to India’s success and expressed his desire for a flawless performance in the final on March 9.
“See, in international sport, you want to keep improving. You don’t say that you’ve ticked all the boxes. We still haven’t played a perfect game. I will never be satisfied with the performances,” Gambhir said.
“We still have one more game to go. Hopefully, we can play a perfect game. We want to keep improving, we want to be ruthless on the cricket field but absolutely humble off the field as well,” he added.
Tactical Changes: Axar at No. 5, KL Rahul at No. 6
In this Champions Trophy, India has experimented with its batting order, promoting Axar Patel to No. 5 to break the chain of right-handers, while KL Rahul has been shifted down to No. 6. Addressing this strategic move, Gambhir emphasized that pushing players out of their comfort zone is crucial for their growth and adaptability.
“I think cricket is all about being out of your comfort zone, and that is how you grow. If everyone is in their comfort zone, then there is stagnation. So, I believe, and you’ve seen the results,” Gambhir explained.
“Everyone in the dressing room is staying out of their comfort zone, be it the coaching staff, be it the players, and hopefully, we continue to do what is important for Indian cricket.”
Champions Trophy Final Takes Priority Over Long-Term Plans
With India’s campaign set to conclude on March 9, Gambhir acknowledged that discussions with senior players about their future ambitions are on the horizon. However, for now, his sole focus remains on the final.
“I’m someone who tries to stay in the present, and at the moment, all I can say is that the entire focus is going to be on the game which is on the 9th,” he stated.
“And then, obviously, there’s a long-term vision and plan as well, but at the moment, it’s only the 9th. After that, we can sit down and plan.”
Gambhir Praises Team’s Professional Chase Against Australia
Chasing a 265-run target, Virat Kohli (84), Shreyas Iyer (45), KL Rahul (42), and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls) played crucial roles in India’s well-calculated run chase. Gambhir lauded his team’s maturity in handling the pressure and executing the plan.
“I think it was very professional, and the reason why I say that is because we had wickets in hand, and that was the plan because we know that pitches here in the second half can get a little slower,” Gambhir said.
“We actually planned the chase really well. After 40 overs, we were only four down. We had two set batters in. So, we knew that with the kind of quality and depth we have, we were always in control.”
India Eyes Champions Trophy Glory on March 9
With an unbeaten campaign so far, India will now face the winner of the second semi-final (New Zealand vs South Africa) in the grand finale on March 9. As Gambhir and his squad aim for the elusive “perfect game,” the Men in Blue will look to add another ICC trophy to their collection.
