The current scenario is completely different to their T20 World Cup campaign in 2021 in Dubai when they suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat against Pakistan, then lost to New Zealand and eventually missed out on qualifying for the semifinals. Asked if the team was in a happy place, considering the comfortable position they were in, Rahul said he had not thought on those lines.
All eyes ???? on Match Day ⌛️#TeamIndia | #NZvIND | #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/xfw5beShan
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2025
“Those are things that did affect us back then. And it wasn’t a pleasant time for us players to not be in the semifinals (in 2021) or do well in the competitions. I think we’ve learned from that. In the last two or three ICC events, we’ve done really well, we’ve performed really well,” Rahul said during a media interaction.
“We’re not thinking about what happened in the past or the good things or the bad things. Just what was important was to stay in the present. I get the sense within the team that everyone’s quite relaxed and quite balanced.
“And everyone’s only thinking and talking about the game that is in front of us and not about winning in the semifinals. We are just taking it one step at a time.” Pacer Arshdeep Singh, keeper-batter Rishabh Pant, spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar have not yet got a game.
???????? Prepping ???? for #NZvIND ????????#TeamIndia | #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/YpL0V6aCKw
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2025
Since India is already in the semifinal, will the team management be tempted to try out benched players? “I’m not in the leadership group to have to make that decision. But I’m sure there will be some temptation. I’ve been in these positions before where there’s an opportunity where you can try out the players who have important games and do get a game. But I don’t know if that will happen in a Championship Trophy.
“We only have one day’s break before the semifinals. And we’ve got a six-day break now. So we probably want all of the players to play the game and get a little bit of time in the middle. And this is my version. I don’t know. It might be very different tomorrow,” Rahul said, without revealing the team’s game plan.
‘New Zealand cannot be taken lightly’
Rahul said a team like New Zealand can never be take lightly. They defeated India in the three-Test series recently and had also beaten them in the 2021 T20 World Cup. “It’s my first Champions Trophy and what I’ve realised is things happen really quickly. It’s not like the World Cup where even if you don’t start well, there’s an opportunity for you to come back. But in this tournament, it’s just really hard. You need to be really switched on.
“No game is easy or no team can be taken lightly. So, yeah, that’s how we’ve looked at things in New Zealand. They’ve always been a very formidable team and a very competitive team. We’ve played against them a lot of times in ICC events and they’ve ramped up against us. It’s been quite even in the contest.”
All praise for Mohammed Shami
Comeback pacer Mohammed Shami’s ability to add late swing makes wicket-keeping a tough task, and Rahul has got a fair taste of that. Rahul said he couldn’t praise Shami enough for his accuracy, pace and sharpness.
“He gets the ball to wobble behind the stump as well. So that’s been very challenging. He’s very active and that’s something that not many people talk about.
“Everyone talks about how he’s played and how he can get the ball to seam in any condition. And how bright his seam is. But not many people talk about how accurate he is and how sharp he is.
“Actually, he can surprise you with his pace. Just the other day in the nets, he hit me straight in the back. So, yeah, all of these things make him a very good bowler to play against.
“He’s worked really hard, which is the hardest thing to do when you’re injured and away from the game for so long. So I’m really happy to have him back. And he’s very close to his best.”
‘Not trying to compete with Pant’
Asked if he feels the pressure when someone like Pant is breathing down his neck, Rahul said, “There’s always the temptation for the team, captain or the coach to take him. I’m not trying to compete with Rishabh. I’m not trying to play like him. I try and do what I do best and try and stick to my game.” Often the way Rahul paces his innings gets debated but he is not really worried about that aspect.
“I’m quite used to seeing it and hearing it and reading about it. Sometimes I just sit back and see whether the criticism is valid… That’s not something that I try to think about when I go into a game that I need to up my strike rate.
“I try to see what the best thing is for the team and for me to do in that scenario and I try to do that. And not always am I going to be right.”
