IND vs PAK ICC Champions Trophy venue final, Rohit not an opener & Overconfident Virat Kohli?

So, India finally had their practice match. After a dull, called-off Day 1 of their warm-up game against the Prime Minister’s XI, Rohit Sharma and company turned to the field as they won the game by 6 wickets. The Indian fans got quite a few takeaways from this game, especially considering the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Rohit Sharma didn’t turn up to open the innings, Shubman Gill returned in a great touch, and Virat Kohli didn’t participate at all. Meanwhile, December 1 also marked the beginning of Jay Shah’s new role as ICC Chairman. Moreover, we had more news coming in as for the ICC Champions Trophy.

New ICC Chairman: Jay Shah!

Jay Shah has taken over as the ICC chairman after the BCCI vs PCB conflict over the ICC Champions Trophy. He aims to improve women’s cricket and leverage cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Previously, Shah served as the BCCI secretary and ACC president, but now he had to relinquish both roles. The BCCI vs PCB conflict is resolved, with the PCB accepting the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy and demanding their own conditions. While previously rumours circulated that Jay Shah’s appointment might be delayed for a month, that hasn’t been the case now.

IND vs PAK ICC Champions Trophy venue decided?

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in a hybrid model, with Dubai hosting India’s matches, including a potential India vs Pakistan match. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan, but the BCCI refused to send the Indian team. A part of PCB’s plan is to support the fact that Dubai to host all India vs Pakistan matches for the next three years, including matches in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 and Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which were originally scheduled to be held in India. PCB also denied the rumours of them wanting more money from ICC to accept the hybrid model, as one PCB official said, “We don’t want money; we want respect.”

Rohit Sharma not an opener now?

After India’s Test win at Perth, the practice game against Prime Minister’s XI saw KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal open the innings instead of Rohit Sharma, who had just returned from paternity leave. Despite expectations, Rohit didn’t bat as an opener, allowing Rahul and Jaiswal to continue their successful partnership. Rohit eventually batted at number four, scoring just 3 runs. This decision has started speculation about Rohit’s batting position in the upcoming 2nd BGT Test, with some wondering if he’ll continue to bat down the order. It must be noted that the last time Rohit Sharma batted as a non-opener was way back in 2018. It was also during the BGT series at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Meanwhile, Rohit’s wife, Ritika Sajdeh, revealed her and Rohit’s new-born boy’s name too.

Is Virat Kohli overconfident?

Virat Kohli, after regaining form in the Perth Test, opted out of the practice match against Prime Minister’s XI, raising questions about his confidence and preparedness for the upcoming 2nd Test against Australia. Despite being slotted at number four, Kohli didn’t bat, while others like KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal got a chance to bat. This decision seems unusual, given Kohli’s recent form and the benefit of facing pink ball challenges in a match-like scenario. It must be noted that Kohli did face Jasprit Bumrah in the nets with the pink ball. It’s unclear whether Kohli or the management made this call.

Sanju Samson is on fire!

Sanju Samson continued to excel in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), reinforcing his claim for a spot in India’s T20I squad. Despite being benched during the T20 World Cup, Samson has been in exceptional form since IPL 2024, showcasing his skills in T20Is. His recent performance includes a quickfire 31 runs off 15 deliveries, with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. With back-to-back hundreds vs SA and consistent performances in SMAT, Samson has certainly cemented his place in the playing XI.

Rohit Sharma happy with game vs PM’s XI

Team India captain Rohit Sharma expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in the Day-Night practice match against Prime Minister’s XI, despite his own poor outing. India rested Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant, but still managed a convincing 6-wicket victory. Rohit highlighted the team’s achievement of their goals, including a good bowling performance and a strong batting display, with only two batters dismissed for under 10 runs. He also appreciated the crowd support in Canberra, calling it “absolutely fantastic.” Shubman Gill was the biggest positive for India, top-scoring with a half-century on his return from an injury.