Indian opener Shubman Gill admitted to feeling nervous during his first-ever ICC final in the 2023 ODI World Cup, as he prepares for the 2025 Champions Trophy title clash. India will take on New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, March 9. Gill has emerged as one of India’s finest ODI batters in recent years.
However, in the 2023 World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad, he managed only four runs off seven balls as India endured a heartbreaking six-wicket loss. Looking back on that disappointing performance and the lessons learned, Shubman Gill shared his thoughts ahead of his second ICC final (via ICC):
“Obviously some nerves in that match (2023 final). (I learned) a lot of things. It was my first ICC Final … I was very excited. (It felt like) I was losing time to dominate in that game. I think in big ICC knockout matches, you can give yourself a little bit more time than you think.”
He further continued:
“We lost (the World Cup Final) in ‘23 and then won in the T20 World Cup (in 2024). So I think we have got good momentum going with us in this tournament. It’s going to be a really exciting game for us and definitely, if we are able to win this one, I think it would be a great way to end this format this year.”
“It’s a very big opportunity for us and in general, in any ICC tournament or any ICC event that happens, we have a lot of responsibility, a lot of pressure from our fans. And the last two ICC tournaments that we have played, we went on to (make the Final).”
Team India Poised to Set Historic Champions Trophy Record
Team India aim to etch their name in Champions Trophy history with a victory over New Zealand in the final. They are currently one of only two teams, alongside Australia, to have won the tournament twice. India first claimed the title as joint winners with Sri Lanka in 2002 before securing an outright victory in 2013.
However, they fell short of a third title in 2017, suffering a heavy defeat to Pakistan in the final. A New Zealand triumph would create a three-way tie for the most Champions Trophy wins. The Kiwis won their maiden title in 2000 by defeating India but lost the 2009 final to Australia.
Earlier in the 2025 Champions Trophy, India secured a 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final Group A encounter.
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