Individuals flash lights from their cell phones through the inauguration of the Nationwide Financial institution Stadium after the completion of renovation works forward of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 event in Karachi, Pakistan February 11, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score: REUTERS
The Indian group made its contact down within the metropolis on Saturday, hoping to bag the ICC Champions Trophy, ranging from February 18, for the second time since 2013.
India had final gained the ICC marquee occasion in England 12 years again underneath the legendary MS Dhoni.
The gamers and help workers trooped right into a ready bus, in step with the brand new BCCI diktat of travelling as a gaggle, earlier than continuing to the designated group lodge.
Earlier, dressed nattily in a white T-shirt and black tracks, Rohit Sharma obtained down from his automobile, and walked in the direction of his teammates on the departure lounge amid loud calls of ‘Rohit bhai’ and ‘Rohit sir’ by followers ready close to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Worldwide Airport entrance in Mumbai.
A lot of the squad members arrived within the group bus together with head coach Gautam Gambhir, vice-captain Shubman Gill and star batter Virat Kohli and the celebs obliged some followers by signing autographs or waving at a couple of of them.
Quickly, the group boarded a day flight to Dubai amid heightened optimism of netting one other international trophy after profitable the T20 World Cup final June.
A Jasprit Bumrah-less India will open their marketing campaign in opposition to Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai earlier than the much-anticipated blockbuster in opposition to conventional rivals Pakistan on February 23, after which the Males in Blue will tackle New Zealand on March 2 to spherical off their league engagements.
The arrogance — of the followers and the group — has been boosted by India’s current 3-0 ODI sequence whitewash at residence over England.
These supporters assembled on the Mumbai airport will likely be hoping that the icons, led by Rohit and Kohli, will pull off one other triumph like they did within the West Indies final yr.
One final alternative for greats?
Few months in the past, Hardik Pandya had walked out with the T20 World Cup trophy hoisted on his shoulders to hitch a sea of passionate followers on the streets close to the Wankhede Stadium for an open bus parade.
If these scenes are to be repeated subsequent month, then India will want some runs from Rohit and Kohli, who’ve copped heavy criticism after repeated failures in Take a look at cricket.
However they replied in sort, as Rohit made a characteristically fluent hundred — a 90-ball 119 in Cuttack ODI in opposition to England — and Kohli his 73rd fifty in Ahmedabad.
This may need introduced them a brief reduction however a productive outing within the Champions Trophy is obligatory within the context of the duo’s future in top-flight cricket.
With the emphasis firmly on hitting the following World Take a look at Championship cycle from June and constructing a group for the 2027 50-over World Cup the Ajit Agarkar-chaired choice panel will intently observe how the 2 veterans fare in Dubai.
Kohli wants 37 runs to turn out to be the third batter ever in ODI historical past to make 14,000 runs whereas Rohit is just 12 runs away from changing into the tenth batter to finish 11,000 runs. However with out a trophy, these numbers will lose some heaviness round them.
An opportunity for younger turks
An enormous promotion got here younger Gill’s method when he was named the ODI vice-captain, and the batter who averages practically 61 within the format will likely be eager to stamp his authority with a fruitful outing within the Champions Trophy.
The injury-enforced absence of Bumrah is a chance for the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, whereas Varun Chakravarthy would need to show himself because the shock strike weapon.
A coming collectively of all these components will decide whether or not India will contact again in Mumbai as a boisterous profitable group someday subsequent month.
Until then followers can immerse themselves in joyous optimism.
Printed – February 16, 2025 01:32 am IST
