Rohit Sharma was recently replaced by Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain. The former skipper has now credited ex-head coach Rahul Dravid for laying the foundation that led to India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 triumph. While the victory came under current coach Gautam Gambhir, Rohit believes it was Dravid’s groundwork that helped the team secure back-to-back ICC titles.
Rohit Sharma team endured heartbreak in the 2023 ODI World Cup, losing the final to Australia despite an unbeaten run in the league stage. However, India made a strong comeback by clinching the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
After that win, Dravid’s tenure ended, and Gambhir took over as head coach. Under his leadership, India lifted the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in March, defeating New Zealand in the final.
Rohit Sharma Reflects on India’s Road to Consecutive ICC Titles
“Look, I love that team. I loved playing with them. The journey we were on wasn’t about one or two years of work — it was years of effort and belief,” Rohit Sharma said. “We came so close to winning the trophy several times but couldn’t quite cross the line. That’s when everyone decided we needed to do something different. It’s one thing to think about change, and another to actually make it happen.”
Rohit Credits Rahul Dravid for Champions Trophy Success
Rohit Sharma also spoke about the strong partnership between him and coach Rahul Dravid, highlighting their joint planning for India’s T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy campaigns.
“We tried to bring in certain qualities and followed a simple method — just keep doing the right things consistently. Everyone enjoyed that process,” he explained. “After every win, we immediately shifted focus to the next game. That mindset really helped me and Rahul bhai in planning both tournaments.”
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has recently taken over as India’s ODI captain. He will lead the side in the upcoming series against Australia starting October 19. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who last featured in the ICC Champions Trophy, have been included in the squad.