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

See Also: WATCH: Rohit Sharma spotted vacationing in Italy with wife Ritika Sajdeh amid India vs England Test series

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.

Unmatched Joy Among Fans:

When India became the Champions Trophy 2025 winners by defeating Pakistan, the masses started posting like mad in social media, with an almost 100% record of fans showering love all over the platform. It was another significant achievement in the history of Indian cricket, and it was akin to when India succeeded in 2013. The worldwide number one trending hashtags like #ChampionsIndia #CT2025Winners were too much to handle, along with the display of floods of people‘s nostalgia.

Also Read:-RR vs KKR – Weather & Pitch report

Player Magic That Went Crazy Online:

The Indian team has captured the imagination of the social media world. Not to be overlooked were instances of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showing emotions with their famous tight hug, that historic white jacket, and Jadeja‘s enthusiastic victory trot, which were watched by tens of millions. The videos of them raising the trophy while fireworks were going off became an instant hit, much to the delight of the fans of the event. The sheer enjoyment the team got out of the whole situation was a manifestation of their hard work and perseverance, which ultimately won them the title.

Also Read:-Mohammad Siraj gets emotional after joining Gujarat Titans

Champions Trophy 2025 Best Social Media Highlights:

• 157M views: Watching the Then and Now moment from 2013 to 2025 was a treat not to be missed.
• 128M views: The heartfelt chills fans experienced as they watched Kohli and his team celebrate.
• 94M views: It was all about the good old days when you got to see your heroes in action.
• 75M+ views: The moment of triumph & Father-Daughter hitting it off.

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India's Champions Trophy 2025 victory will go down in history as probably the most incredible moment in cricket history, with social media getting the lion’s share of the attention and uniting millions of fans globally.

A PCB spokesperson pointed out in a forceful statement the financial impact India might endure should the BCCI opt not to go to Pakistan.

"India will suffer more financial loss than Pakistan if they choose not to participate in the Champions Trophy,” the spokesperson said. “The BCCI’s decision will not only impact their revenue from the tournament but also their global sponsorship deals and broadcasting rights, which heavily rely on India-Pakistan matches.”

This remark emphasizes the huge stakes since games between India and Pakistan produce unprecedented viewer numbers and huge sponsorship agreements. The PCB is of opinion that a boycott or request for a neutral venue might lower the usual financial advantage India has in ICC events.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012, limiting their ICC event meetings, owing to political concerns. Slated to be held by Pakistan, the Champions Trophy 2025 has turned a fresh source of debate.

"India Will Suffer More Financial Loss...": PCB's Warning After CT 2025 https://t.co/Rjsp1YbfW6

— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) March 22, 2025

Also Read: Kohli's Explosive innings of fifty runs set the ground for RCB in IPL 2025 opener

What comes next?

• The ICC should negotiate a solution between BCCI and PCB and settle communications.
• An alternative middle ground could possibly be considered if India does not pick to compete in Pakistan.
• Any choice will have financial consequences depending on ICC rules, sponsorship agreements, and broadcasting rights.

The ICC might intercede between the two boards, but other sites could be under consideration if India rejects to compete in Pakistan. Still, PCB is determined to have the competition at home, which would constitute one of Pakistan's most significant occasions since the World Cup of 1996.

The cricket world is eagerly waiting BCCI's ultimate verdict, which could define the direction of the Champions Trophy 2025 and IndianPakistani cricket relations given increased tensions.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was a watershed moment in India's cricket viewing, setting a new record in television and online platforms. At an all-time high viewership, the series ranked among the highest-watched sports events of all time.

According to official records, JioStar boasted a record 250 billion overall views, the highest among cricket fans. Even the live television broadcast, Star Sports, witnessed history-shattering action with 137 billion views. JioHotstar, another household streaming service, received 110+ billion views, pointing towards the shift towards digital viewing.

The final match in the tournament witnessed a record-breaking real-time viewership. TV viewership peaked at 122 million concurrent viewers, one of the all-time highest TV audiences for a cricket match in India. Digitally, 61 million concurrent viewers viewed the final live, which only serves to underscore the increasing dominance of online media in sports broadcasting.

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The record-breaking ratings reflect India's unprecedented passion for cricket and increased availability of live sporting action on old and new media. Success of Champions Trophy 2025 also indicates the role played by streaming media in transforming sport viewing, with more viewers abandoning traditional cable television to watch games on smart TVs and mobiles.

Industry experts believe that the combined coverage of television and digital media has set a new standard for cricket watching. Increased adoption of high-speed internet, along with low-cost mobile data, has contributed significantly to this increase.

With the ICC T20 World Cup and certain other major events lined up for the coming years, such statistics indicate that Indian cricket viewership will continue to increase. The 2025 Champions Trophy has certainly reached new heights and been an unforgettful moment for world cricket fans.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lost a huge sum of money after the ICC Champions Trophy, which was the first ICC tournament in Pakistan in 29 years. The PCB lost a record Rs 869 crore in preparations for the tournament, including stadium refurbishment, security, etc. But the board earned only Rs 52 crore from hosting and ticketing fees. This led to a huge loss of Rs 739 crore, and the PCB's future to host big events was doubted. The poor financial performance has placed the PCB in a defensive position, and it is now reconsidering hosting future tournaments. The loss also questioned the long-term sustainability of hosting such tournaments in Pakistan.

Disappointing Return Despite Success of the Event:

While the Champions Trophy as a sporting event was a success, with the Pakistani team performing well and the crowd attending in good mood, the return in the form of finance was much less than expected. The PCB also expected to gain a profit by staging the tournament, but ticket and sponsorship sales were not sufficient to counter the astronomical expense. The loss signals the risks involved in hosting international events. The PCB will now have to investigate future events and how to organize them so that they raise sufficient money to avoid future financial losses. The board can also seek means of securing better sponsors and high turnout at future tournaments so as to reduce financial risks. In the future, the PCB can seek alternative revenue sources so that they can be profitable in the future.

ALSO READ:New Zealand vs Pakistan: Second T20I Match Details, Predicted Playing XI, and Live Streaming Info

High Risks in Hosting Big Events:

This loss illustrates the danger in hosting large international events. Despite the fact that the PCB incurred a lot in preparing for the Champions Trophy, the revenue generated was not sufficient to offset the expenses. The board will have to plan thoroughly for future events to ensure that they are economically viable.

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy praised his captain Rohit Sharma for how he kept him employed during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After taking part in India’s victorious campaign, Chakravarthy offered admiration for Rohit’s prowess, one of the greatest captains of all time.

Rohit’s Smart Captaincy Brings Out the Best in Chakravarthy

Chakravarthy cited instances of how Rohit Sharma optimally utilized his bowling capabilities at different times of the game, I bowled two overs in the Powerplay, two to three overs at the death, and was called upon whenever a wicket was needed in the middle overs. Such efficient and effective utilization of Chakravarthy’s resources lead to him achieving great results and helped the team win.

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Rohit’s Leadership Earns High Praise

Chakravarthy added that even before he attempted to tell his best bowling plan, Rohit had already anticipated it. He knew how to get the best out of me without me even saying it.

With Rohit Sharma now serving as the captain, India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 under his captaincy further solidifying the fact that he is one of the best captains in the history of cricket. The success of the campaign stemmed from him utilizing his skills to manage players and make vital moves to achieve victory.

MS Dhoni got himself trending again after a video of his reaction towards the Champions Trophy question surfaced online. In the footage, Dhoni is seen capturing an airport, and a reporter greets him with “Hello Mahi bhai, Champions Trophy…” but Dhoni walks past him in silence.

The clip has received mixed reviews with some users slandering Dhoni for his “disgraceful" behavior while others commend him for ignoring the media in yet another attempt to troll him. One post that gained traction labeled Dhoni as “anti-national” and argued that he would have given an elaborate response had the question been regarding businessman Mukesh Ambani. This created further debate and controversy regarding his opinion on his double-edged relationship with national matters and cricket. 

MS Dhoni has always been widely recognized for his cool, calm, and collected personality, both on the field and off. He rarely speaks about sensational news articles surrounding him unless provoked, which puts him at the center of many unwanted criticisms. His quiet acceptance in the video stems from his infamous silence where he chooses to not comment on anything. It is important to keep in mind that Dhoni has shifted his attention into different pursuits after retiring from international cricket in 2020 and has focusedon his IPL commitments with the Chennai Super Kings.

Meet the biggest anti national - Ms dhobi.

The reporter should have asked him about Ambani then he definitely would had given a long answer.😔 pic.twitter.com/f4s1PIQe0p

— 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐮 (@Ro_45stan) March 12, 2025

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Dhoni's career has profoundly developed with the ICC’s Champions Trophy. He captained India to victory during its 2013 edition, becoming the first captain to have all three ICC white ball trophies to his name (T20 WC, ODI WC, and Champions Trophy). The reason behind his stance on this issue is that he does not want to deal with the conversation surrounding this event that has become so ambiguous in recent years.

Regardless, Dhoni remains one of India’s most respected cricketers and throughout his life, whether through word or deed, managed to capture the attention of many. He is undeniably one of the most experienced and admired cricketers in India, and even in retirement, Dhoni continues to receive massive public attention and adoration from a diverse array of fans. In their eyes, his actions, or lack thereof, speak volumes.