‘We were watching…’ – Firstpost

India and Australia are all set to lock horns against each other in the
first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday, 4 March. Ahead of the crucial encounter, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has shed light on the thought process behind the team selection for the tournament.

India faced heavy criticism ahead of the tournament for selecting five spinners in their squad. However, Rohit Sharma and his team silenced the doubters when Varun Chakravarthy grabbed a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in their final group-stage match on Sunday. India’s spinners have been the defining factor in this tournament.

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Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Monday, Rohit addressed multiple topics and shed light on the rationale behind key selection decisions.

Rohit on India’s squad selection

Rohit explained that India’s selection strategy was driven by the expected slow nature of the pitches in Dubai. The team management prioritised spin options while ensuring balance in the squad.

“So, we somehow kind of knew that the surfaces are going to be slow. We were watching ILT20, which was played here. And we thought the slower bowlers will be a lot more helpful. And then we’ve got a batter sitting in the dugout anyway. If we need a batter to come in, Rishabh [Pant] is there for us. So, we thought with an extra option of spin, there’s always a chance that we can play those guys. That was pretty much the thinking behind that,” Rohit said.

Rohit on Champions Trophy scheduling controversy

The Indian captain also addressed the debate surrounding the Champions Trophy scheduling. Many criticised the ICC for scheduling all of India’s matches at a single venue in Dubai, arguing that it provided an unfair advantage to the team. The ICC moved India’s games to the UAE after the BCCI refused to send a team to Pakistan.

“No, look, the three matches we played, the nature of the surface was the same. But in all three games, the pitch has behaved differently. Today, we saw that when the bowlers were bowling, the ball was swinging a little. We didn’t see that in the first two games when our bowlers were bowling. And in the evening, it’s a little cold in the air, so there are obviously a lot of chances of that swing. We know this. But the three games we played, there are four or five surfaces that are being used. So, every surface has a different nature. We don’t know which wicket will be played,” Rohit added.