India National Cricket Team vice-captain Shubman Gill dismissed the notion that the toss would play a major role in the outcome of the games in Dubai ahead of the high-pressure match against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday (February 23).
The Men in Blue will play all their matches at the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai International Cricket Stadium, including one semifinal and final if they make the cut, while the rest of the matches will be held in Pakistan under the hybrid model.
Shubman Gill confident toss won’t decide India-Pakistan match in Dubai
They defeated Bangladesh in their first game on February 20 by six wickets to have a flying start to their ongoing ICC Champions Trophy campaign. In that match, Rohit Sharma had lost the toss, but it didn’t impact their plans as Bangladesh opted to bat first as the Indian captain wanted.
Well, toss very often has its play on the games, but Shubam Gill denied its impact in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.
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The Indian vice-captain has explained that dew can sometimes influence the outcome by making batting easier under lights, but since it hasn’t been a factor in Dubai, the toss is unlikely to play a significant role in the India-Pakistan match on Sunday.
Shubman Gill said at the pre-match press conference in Dubai on Saturday, “I don’t think the toss will play a big role since there hasn’t been any dew. When dew comes into play, the toss becomes important, but in this case, it won’t make much of a difference.”
Under lights, dew might not come: Shubman Gill
Speaking about the Dubai pitch, the right-handed batter has noted that dew was not a factor in the last match against Bangladesh and might not appear under lights. He admitted that batting on slow wickets is challenging but reckoned that whichever team would cash in between 11 to 40 overs, would have a better chance of winning the high-voltage match in Dubai.
Gill further noted, “In the last match, dew didn’t come. Definitely, under lights, dew might not come. On slow wickets, batting is not easy. We need to rotate the strike. The team that plays well in the middle overs, between 11 and 40, will have a better chance of winning.”
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Shubman Gill shares his thoughts on ODI cricket
Meanwhile, the Indian star denied targeting any Pakistani bowler in the upcoming Champions Trophy clash, saying ‘it will depend on the match situation.’ The Punjab lad also shared how things work in the 50-over format, saying a lot depends on instincts and mental strength.
Gill signed off by saying, “The team that handles pressure well, the chances of winning are high. The 50-over format is such that we think that we don’t have a lot of time. We don’t get to play this format a lot as compared to the other ones. So, it is crucial to make decisions with a well-balanced mind. For us, as batters, it is important to follow our instinct.”
