Indian captain Rohit Sharma has vowed that the team will give its best to bring home the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Speaking at an event celebrating 50 years of the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Rohit reflected on his career milestones and the significance of the venue in Indian cricket history.

The Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will be hosted by Pakistan and the UAE under a hybrid model. India will play all its matches in Dubai. The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, with India grouped alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in Group A. The tournament’s highlight, the India-Pakistan clash, is set for February 23, while India’s campaign begins against Bangladesh on February 20 and concludes with a match against New Zealand on March 2.

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Speaking about India’s preparations, Rohit said, “We will try our best to win the title. Representing India in an ICC tournament is always a dream. When we reach Dubai, 140 crore people will be behind us, and we will do everything we can to bring the trophy back to Wankhede.”

Rohit also reminisced about the Wankhede Stadium’s rich cricketing legacy, including the 2011 ICC World Cup triumph and his personal experiences at the venue. “When I was 14, I watched the Mumbai team play Ranji matches here. The atmosphere at Wankhede is special, even for players who are not from Mumbai. Whether it’s India, Mumbai, or Mumbai Indians, the crowd here never disappoints,” he said.

He recalled the celebrations at Wankhede after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory. “When we celebrated the 2024 T20 WC victory in Mumbai, the stands were full. The energy here is unmatched. Celebrating such wins with your people is something special,” Rohit added.

Rohit reflected on the grand parade following the 2024 T20 World Cup win, recalling the overwhelming support of fans. “When we were in Barbados, we celebrated as a team due to a hurricane. But celebrating the win at home with so many fans was something extraordinary. The next day, I woke up feeling that we had done something truly special,” he shared.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to bring intense competition, with Group B featuring World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan, England, and South Africa. India, aiming to reclaim the Champions Trophy title, will rely on a mix of experience and young talent to navigate the challenging group stage and advance to the knockout rounds.

As the team prepares for the high-stakes tournament, Rohit Sharma’s remarks highlight the players’ determination and their connection to the passionate cricketing fan base, especially the iconic Wankhede Stadium, which has been witness to so many historic moments in Indian cricket.

The India Squad for ICC Champions Trophy:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.

India’s Group Stage Fixtures: