Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his full support behind skipper Rohit Sharma, despite the captain’s lack of big scores in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Rohit’s performances have been below par, with scores of 28, 15, 20, and 41 in the tournament. His struggles date back to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he even opted out of the playing XI for the final Test. However, Gambhir emphasized that Rohit’s impact goes beyond numbers.

“You evaluate based on runs; we evaluate based on impact. That’s the difference,” Gambhir said after India’s semifinal victory over Australia at DICS on Tuesday night. “The Champions Trophy final is coming up. If your captain bats with such intent, it sends a strong message to the dressing room. As journalists, you focus on numbers and averages, but we look at the intent and impact.”

No Concerns Over Kohli’s Leg-Spin Struggles

Gautam Gambhir also dismissed concerns about Virat Kohli’s supposed weakness against leg-spin. “When you play over 300 ODIs, you will get out to different bowlers. He has already scored a hundred and an 84 in this competition. These things happen,” he stated.

Why KL Rahul Is Preferred Over Rishabh Pant

Addressing the wicketkeeping debate, Gambhir justified KL Rahul’s selection over Rishabh Pant. “KL averages 50 in ODIs. That’s the answer,” he said. “My job is to be honest with 140 crore Indians and my players in the dressing room. I don’t care about outside opinions or agendas.”

He also explained why Axar Patel has been batting ahead of Rahul. “In a team sport, numbers don’t matter, batting positions don’t matter—impact matters. KL has excelled at No. 6, giving us depth, and he has embraced that role.”

India’s Chase Was Always Under Control

Despite India chasing down 265 with only 11 balls to spare, Gambhir did not believe the match was too close for comfort. “Not at all. It was a professional chase. We had wickets in hand, which was the plan because pitches tend to slow down in the second innings. By the 40-over mark, we were only four down with two set batters. We executed our chase perfectly.”

Still Room for Improvement

While India has been dominant, Gambhir believes the team has yet to play a “perfect game.” “In international cricket, you always strive to improve. Whether it’s batting, fielding, or bowling, there’s always room for growth. We have one more game to go—hopefully, we’ll play our best cricket in the final.”

Shami’s World-Class Performance

Gambhir also lauded Mohammed Shami for his brilliant three-wicket haul in the semifinal. “Shami is a world-class performer. The way he trains, practices, and prepares himself is phenomenal. He’s a match-winner across formats, and his comeback after 18 months shows his quality.”

With the final ahead, India will aim to put together a complete performance and lift the Champions Trophy once again.

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