Champions Trophy 2025 winning was a special moment for team India and Indian cricket history. Rohit Sharma will always be in the pages of history as he was then the ODI captain of the team. During the CEAT Cricket Rating awards in Mumbai on Tuesday, the batter talked about his experiences playing with the squad full of talents. Mayanti Langer, the host of the programme, said that all of the players in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad were individually match winners. In response, Rohit said that he loved the team, he loved to play with the team. For him, winning the title was a journey for every player who was part of the squad. 

"Look, I love that team, loved playing with them and it's a journey that we were all into, for many years. It's not about one year or two years of work. It was about getting into work from many years. We'd come so close to winning that trophy many times, but we couldn't just get over the line. That is where everyone decided that we need to do something different and there's two ways to look at it", Rohit said.

"There's always a thought of doing that and then actually going and doing that. It cannot be done by one or two players. We needed everyone to buy into that thought, which was good from everyone." 

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Watch the full speech of Rohit Sharma 

ROHIT SHARMA'S FULL SPEECH AT CEAT CRICKET AWARDS SHOW.🗣️ pic.twitter.com/mQiMR4aSQP

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) October 8, 2025

Rohit turned out to be the main attraction of the night. There were other star Indian cricketers as well, but the cricket fans showed a huge amount of love for Sharma, who was just snubbed from the captaincy by the team management. 

"All the guys who took part in that competition got into that thought process of how to win games and how to challenge ourselves and not be complacent and not to take anything for granted", he further said about the boys. 

The former Indian batter, Mohammad Kaif, felt that it would be hard for the BCCI selection committee to set a benchmark for Rohit Sharma’s selection post the three-match ODI series against Australia down under. He was recently removed from the 50-over leadership as Shubman Gill became the new captain.

Kaif reckoned that it would be hard to expect consistency from Rohit Sharma, something which is associated with Virat Kohli, who will also return to the national side for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025 final. They both have retired from the shortest and longest formats of the game and have one aim to feature for the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

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“People are saying that Virat Kohli will be assessed, but I think that is something which will apply to Rohit Sharma. Rohit is not captaining, and the way he has been playing over the years, scoring 20 to 30, but when a big match comes, he scores 80, a match-winning knock, that’s how his career has gone. He never scores consistently.” Mohammed Kaif expressed in a video on his YouTube channel.

Mohammed Kaif urges BCCI to set different benchmark for Rohit Sharma’s ODI selection

Kaif observes that in the 50-over format, Rohit always looks to provide the national side aggressive starts inside the powerplay, and that doesn’t help him in getting a strong average. The Mumbai batter smashed 76 against New Zealand in the final and walked away with the Player of the Match award in Dubai.

The difference between him and Kohli in their numbers is that Kohli brings consistency, while Rohit brings match-winning innings and knocks. It will be difficult for the selectors. What if Rohit fails in the Australia series? People will say he is out of form, but if you look at his career, he often fails in two or three innings and then comes back strong.” Kaif remarked.

“In the World Cup, you will need experienced players. If they’ve decided that they’re not being treated right, and they’re close to retirement, that’s their personal choice. But if both of them play in the World Cup, India’s pride will rise, and match-winning innings will definitely come from their bats.” Mohammed Kaif addressed.

The former Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, felt that their success in winning the 2025 season of Champions Trophy came due to the tenure of former head coach, Rahul Dravid, despite being under their new head coach, Gautam Gambhir. India bounced back from losing the 2023 World Cup final to winning two successive ICC events.

Rohit Sharma, who received a memento for earning the Champions Trophy 2025 by beating New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, revealed the details around the side’s philosophy.

See Also: 'Can't judge form or fitness of...'- Former selector makes stunning claim on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's selection for Australia ODIs

“Look, I love that team, loved playing with them, and it's a journey that we were all into for many years. It's not about one or two years of work. It was about getting into work after many years. We'd come so close to winning that trophy many times, but we couldn't just get over the line. That is where everyone decided that we need to do something different, and there are two ways to look at it.” The Mumbai batter expressed at the CEAT Award-winning function.

Rohit Sharma credits Rahul Dravid for India’s Champions Trophy 2025 success

Rohit felt that most of the strategies and rhythm of the Champions Trophy came through the ODI World Cup, when Dravid was the head coach of the national side. The Nagpur-born claimed that they would extend their focus to the next ICC event.

“There's always a thought of doing that and then actually going and doing that. It cannot be done by one or two players. We needed everyone to buy into that thought, which was good for everyone. All the guys who took part in that competition (Champions Trophy) got into that thought process of how to win games and how to challenge ourselves and not be complacent and not to take anything for granted.” The Indian opener shed light.

“Those were the qualities that we tried to bring in, and we thought it was a good method of just going and doing that repeatedly. Everyone enjoyed that process. Once we got over the line when we won the first game, we completely put that game aside and then started focusing on the next one.” Rohit Sharma concluded.

The era of Captain Rohit Sharma for Team India is speculated to end soon. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can soon announce the replacement of Rohit Sharma. After the retirement of MS Dhoni, it was Sharma, under whose leadership India touched the glory moment in limited-over formats. As Sharma already signed out from T20Is, discussions in the article will be limited to his heroics in One Day Internationals only. Highlighting only 3 of the best ODI victories during Captain Rohit Sharma's era is more than a difficult task. 

Top three memorable wins for Team India in ODIs under Rohit Sharma's leadership:

1. Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India vs New Zealand:

Match 9, 2025, was a historic day for Team India in the format. On this day, Team India, led by Sharma, won the Championship Trophy by defeating New Zealand in the final match by 4 wickets with 6 balls to spare. The skipper of India was in top form in the match, scoring 76 off 83 and laying the foundation for a terrific win. Batting first, New Zealand registers a competitive total of 251 runs in 50 overs at the Dubai International Stadium. India chased down the total in exchange for 6 wickets. 

2. World Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan:

World Cup 2023 could be a sweet memory for Indian cricket fans if they were able to win the final match against Australia. Until the final match, India was undefeated. On October 14, 2023, the Men in Blue brigade beat archrival Pakistan with ease. Against a high-class bowling performance by Team India, Pakistan's batting lineup collapsed like a house of cards.

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Batting first, they scored only 191 runs in 42.5 overs. India took only 30.3 overs to chase down the subpar total. Rohit Sharma scored a magnificent 86, and Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten 53; India won the match, losing only 3 wickets. 

3. ODI series win vs England, 2022:

Before the 3rd of the three-match ODI series, the series was balanced at 1-1. England made a brilliant comeback by winning the second match and was confident to conquer the third match as well. As the home team, Jos Buttler's team, England, was the favorite to win the series against the mighty India. Rohit Sharma led the team. India found the way to victory when Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal made some great efforts with their bowling. England was bowled out for 259 runs, a chase-able total for the touring side, and they did that with 47 balls to spare. Rishabh Pant played an unforgettable 125-run knock at Old Trafford, accompanied by Pandya's 71. India won the 3-match ODI series by 2-1, a historic scoreline for Indian cricket. 

Indian pace star Mohammed Shami recently shared a heartfelt story about his bond with Virat Kohli. The fast bowler revealed that Kohli often spoke with his mother over the phone, maintaining a warm connection beyond cricket.

Shami recalled a special moment during the Champions Trophy final earlier this year in Dubai. His mother was present at the venue to witness the big occasion, and Kohli made sure to meet her personally after India’s victory. The star batter’s gesture left a lasting impression.

According to Shami, Kohli sought his mother’s blessings after the win, showing his respect and humility. He added that these personal moments reflect the genuine side of Kohli, who values relationships as much as cricket. The incident highlighted not just their strong camaraderie as teammates, but also Kohli’s deep regard for family values, earning him admiration both on and off the field.

See Also: ‘Writing his destiny…’- Ravichandran Ashwin shows anger at this India player’s exclusion from Asia Cup 2025

Mohammed Shami Shares a Story About His Bond with Virat Kohli:

The day following the Champions Trophy final, a heartwarming picture of Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Shami’s mother went viral on social media, capturing the attention of fans everywhere. Shami’s mother is rarely seen at cricket stadiums, but she made a special appearance for the high-profile final. 

The occasion was even more significant as it marked Shami’s comeback after a long injury break, making her presence and the memorable photograph even more meaningful. The image symbolized both personal triumph and emotional family support during a crucial milestone in Shami’s career.

In a popular show named ' Aap ki Adaalat', Shami said, “ Virat used to talk to my mom over the phone. She had never met him in person and when she came to watch the match after years, I told Virat she was there. That is why he went to her.”

When host Rajat Sharma mentioned Virat Kohli once playfully calling him lazy for falling asleep during massage sessions, Mohammed Shami responded with a light-hearted laugh, taking the comment in good spirit and showcasing their friendly bond.

He further said, “ Your body gets exhausted during a Test. I might have taken a short nap, but if that earns me the lazy tag, I do not mind. Fast bowling is the toughest job in the team. We run the most, we respond whenever the situation demands and off the field, if I relax for a bit, what is the harm?”

He added, “ Virat can call me ‘lazy’ or ‘lala’, but I am neither fat nor selling jewellery. In the Indian team, you are bound to pick up some nickname.”

The Indian fast bowler fondly remembered a humorous incident when Virat Kohli smiled while answering a commentator’s question in English. Shami recalled how the moment brought laughter in the dressing room, highlighting Kohli’s playful side beyond his serious on-field persona.

He concluded, “ I was trying my best to answer in English. I even joked that I had brought Virat with me during the New Zealand series because the Kiwis have such a different accent. After I finished, Virat asked why I had brought him along.”

2025 became a milestone year for the Indian cricket team as they won the much-awaited Champions Trophy, beating New Zealand in the final of the prestigious tournament. It was redemption for men in the Blue Brigade as well after losing the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia.

India won the T20I World Cup before, but they had yet to win an ICC ODI title. Champions Trophy 2025 was the golden opportunity for the team, and they did it. They defeated New Zealand in the final by 4 wickets. Months after winning the trophy, on the special day of 15 August 2025, Rishabh Pant shared a video where netizens can see how the entire squad reacted in the dressing room after hitting the final runs.

Sharing the video on social media platforms, Pant wrote as a caption, "Happy Independence Day, India. Some moments stay with you forever, and winning for India is at the top of the list. Proud to be Indian."

Read More: 'Siraj has a workload too...'- Irfan Pathan heavily criticised Jasprit Bumrah's workload management issue

Watch the unseen moments here

Happy Independence Day, India. 🇮🇳
Some moments stay with you forever and winning for India is at the top of the list. Proud to be Indian.#RP17 📷🕶️ pic.twitter.com/pfgr1tg7da

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) August 15, 2025

Fans and spectators only could see India's celebration with them on the field. But they did not know about the recently shared video by Rishabh showing how Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, and other players and staff reacted in the dressing room. Through the video we can see Rohit Sharma, the skipper of the Champions Trophy-winning team, jump in joy and rush to other players in the dressing room and on the ground. Gill too erupted in joy.

On March 9, 2025, New Zealand, batting first, scored 251/7 in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025. India chased down the run successfully and won it by 4 wickets. In the match, Sharma scored 76 off 83, Shreyas Iyer scored 48, and KL Rahul was the third highest scorer of the night for Team India with an unbeaten 34. 

India batter KL Rahul has been enjoying a sensational run of form since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A determined showing in Australia was followed by standout performances in the Champions Trophy 2025 and the Indian Premier League, making this one of the most prolific phases of Rahul’s career. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent from the ongoing Test series against England, Rahul has stepped up once again, registering a century in the second innings of the opening Test.

Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar has now shed light on how Rahul’s resurgence was a key focus of his tenure with the Indian team. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Nayar shared, “When I first picked up that role, I remember I had a conversation with Rohit, and he said that one of the things he was really keen on me doing was working with KL and bringing out a more aggressive outlook to how KL played the game and bringing the best out of him because he believed strongly that KL would play a major role in the Champions Trophy, World Cup, and everything going forward, including the BGT [Border-Gavaskar Trophy] and the Tests in England.”

Rahul’s current success is in stark contrast to his struggles in 2023, particularly in the ODI World Cup final, where he was heavily criticized for a tentative approach under pressure. Failing to adapt against Australia, Rahul was dropped from the T20 World Cup squad in 2024 and later released by his IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants. According to Nayar, significant shifts were required both technically and mentally, and they began working during India’s unsuccessful tour of New Zealand.

Turning Point: Technical Adjustments and Mental Reset

"Australia was going to be critical for him because it was almost like, if you didn't get runs there, then where is his career going? Because he was out of the T20 [squad]. Then this could also very well have been his last series," Nayar recalled. "I told him, listen, we've got 15 days to prepare before we go to Australia. And take those 10 days there; we have got almost a month to prepare. What do you want to do? How do you want to approach this? What is your mindset?"

Abhishek Nayar on Espn Cricinfo about Rohit - Rahul:

"When I first picked up that role, I remember I had a conversation with Rohit, and he said that one of the things he was really keen on me doing was working with KL and bringing out a more aggressive outlook to how KL played… pic.twitter.com/frRFJA9TZ4

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 28, 2025

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Nayar emphasized that once they corrected Rahul’s technique, they focused on mental fortitude. “He spoke about what he's been doing and what worked for him in the past. And then I had a certain thought process, which was very different from his,” he said. “Over hours and hours of conversation… eventually I got him to a place where he sort of trusted me… in regard to his stance, where he stands in the crease, and what guard he takes.” Nayar, who still works with Rahul privately, hopes the batter’s revival continues through the England series.

On May 6, 2025, Gautam Gambhir, who is the head coach of the Indian cricket team, addressed the ABP Network’s India@2047 Summit to elaborate on India’s successful Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. The summit was organized to facilitate discussion around India’s future in several different sectors, and Gambhir was given a session as part of the sporting fraternity. The session was entitled "All for One, One for All," as Gambhir shared the underlying theme that resulted in India’s success in the prestigious tournament, which drew a lot of appreciation and chatter amongst fans. 

In his address, Gambhir pointed to the players' collective effort and genuine unity as the true contributors to the Champions Trophy victory. He expressed that the win was not a singular player’s brilliance but was solely based on the tireless commitment of every player, support staff, and fan, who held the team together. Gambhir was sure to emphasize that the reason for India's success was consistent performances in tough moments, and very many voices on social media noted his articulated focus on teamwork rather than star culture. His remarks came as a subtle response to ongoing debates, including Sunil Gavaskar’s recent comments questioning Gambhir’s approach to the tournament’s reward distribution.

Also Read: WATCH: Gautam Gambhir picks Virat Kohli’s body – Shocking Reason!

Gambhir won the Champions Trophy 2025 win, which was huge news, as he took over in 2024 at the age of 42, being the youngest in the history of Indian cricket to take the role. However, his journey hasn’t been without scrutiny. At the summit, Gambhir also addressed critics head-on, defending his contributions to Indian cricket and taking a dig at former players who, in his words, treat the sport as their “personal fiefdom.” The fans embraced Gambhir’s honesty, liking his no-nonsense approach to leadership and hence sporting culture based upon merit. 

Watch the video here:

Bodied some haters, well done Gautam Gambhir Ji 🔥pic.twitter.com/bACuggXlUD

— Abhishek (@vicharabhio) May 6, 2025

Gambhir’s Vision for Team India’s Future

Gautam Gambhir's insights at the summit signal a promising direction for Indian cricket, emphasizing unity, resilience, and a collective drive to win. His focus on team-oriented success rather than individual glory reflects a shift toward a more cohesive and purpose-driven approach.

As the highly anticipated Test series against England approaches, Gambhir’s mantra of shared responsibility is poised to shape the team's mindset and strategy. Indian cricket fans have reason to be optimistic, as his leadership philosophy could play a pivotal role in defining the nation's cricketing journey ahead.

Rohit Sharma revealed his moving road to the Champions Trophy victory while discussing his evolving cricket mindset from previous years. During his appearance on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast with Michael Clarke, Rohit Sharma discussed the team's multiple losses prior to the Champions Trophy while explaining what drove them to achieve victory.

The win of the Champions Trophy meant everything to Rohit, according to his response. The team experienced numerous setbacks that developed before the Champions Trophy competition started. India was unsuccessful in both series when Australia and New Zealand visited India. We needed to reverse the situation. We wanted to bounce back.” According to Rohit, the team succeeded because his players maintained absolute mental clarity throughout the tournament.

Rohit explained that India's constant use of the same players was a major reason behind their comeback. “Therefore we maintained almost the identical squad throughout the World Cup period since I interpreted our performance to be excellent.” His team stayed with the same players despite injuries only occurring to Bumrah, as he mentioned.

Rohit Sharma:I don’t think it all about scoring runs, it’s about winning games ,it’s about winning trophies.If you don’t win trophies ,the runs are of no use.

ALPHA MENTALITY 🥶

pic.twitter.com/8HQg8odD84

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) April 16, 2025

Also read: BCCI central contract: Rohit, Virat, and Jasprit retain A+ Grade as Board prepares to announce player list

Team First: A Shift in Perspective

Rohit described his development as a cricketer as a transformation beyond strategy because he realized focusing on the sport as winning games became more vital than amassing runs. Eligibility to win starts by scoring runs when players enter competitive matches. I want to perform. When you continue playing cricket, you understand it goes beyond scoring runs since the ultimate goal becomes the successful completion of games and winning championships, according to him. And Rohith mentions that I don’t think it’s all about scoring runs; it’s about winning games, it’s about winning trophies. If you don’t win trophies, the runs are of no use. 

During the 2019 World Cup failure, he expressed that scoring five centuries meant nothing because India lost its way to the semifinals. When I returned home on board, I finally understood that those runs proved unimportant. The day after the tournament loss, my perspective changed as I dedicated my focus to winning championships instead of personal achievements. Through his story, Rohit demonstrates his establishment as a team-oriented leader who puts team success before individual achievements.

Mohammed Siraj, who faced the odyssey of being a benchwarmer during the most significant match of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT 2025), talked about the incident. He explained that Rohit Sharma’s mastermind plan was to support the spinners over the pacers and was purely based on the pitch conditions and what was best for the team.

Rohit’s Decision to Exclude Siraj:

Siraj, showing respect and insightful opinion of the mode of Rohit Sharma’s decision, gave a comment, “Rohit bhai does what is best for the team. He had so much experience and knew that pacers wouldn’t be effective on that track. He knew spinners would be more useful, and that’s why they decided to snub me.” It is noteworthy that this showcased his cunning cognition due to cricket and ability to make challenging decisions when the team called for them.

Mohammed Siraj opens up about his omission from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad. 🇮🇳🏆

What are your thoughts on his exclusion? 🤔#Cricket #Siraj #India #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/JiMoTbWFhl

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 25, 2025

Also read:Shreyas Iyer's most destructive overs in IPL history

Spinners Shine in CT 2025:

The move by Rohit was great in that India used spinners in almost all of the friendly tracks, and they won these matches. It was an illustration of his in-depth analysis of the conditions, grounded by his game face, which helped India earn a spot in the competition.

The comments by Siraj reveal his unselfish attitude and the reason why India, a collective of individualistic players, continues to be an intact and solid team under Rohit's captaincy.