Shubman Gill to captain India in Champions Trophy 2025 as injured Rohit Sharma might be rested vs New Zealand: Report

Gill, the designated vice-captain, stepped up to lead India for some time. Rohit returned to the field after a few overs to take up leadership duties, but he did not seem to be a 100% fit. Concerns about Rohit's fitness became real when he did not bat in India's first training session in Dubai on Wednesday, two days after their victory against Pakistan.

According to multiple reports, Rohit was the only Indian batter not batting in the nets during India's rigorous training session on Wednesday. The Indian captain did not even take throwdowns. Rohit, instead, spent a lot of time discussing strategy with head coach Gautam Gambhir. The only shining light was the little sprint that Rohit took. It indicated that the injury is perhaps not as serious as putting a dent in India's Champions Trophy, but it may just be enough to prompt them to rest Rohit from the New Zealand match.

The match against New Zealand holds little value in the tournament context, as both teams have already confirmed their semi-final spots. The only incentive is to finish as Group A winners. Another major reason why India is considering the possibility of resting captain Rohit Sharma from Sunday's match is the one-day gap between it and India's semi-final on Tuesday (March 4).