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The Champions Trophy 2025 is right around the corner, as teams gear up to compete for the coveted ICC trophy and outperform other teams in the prestigious tournament. With dominance in the T20I format and a whitewash in the ODI series against England, the confidence level in the Indian camp is high. As the team prepares for the upcoming challenges in the Champions Trophy, former Indian batter, and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar predicts the one player who can emerge as the star performer for the Indian team.
Sanjay Manjrekar foresees India’s star performer in Champions Trophy 2025
Cricket analyst Manjrekar has expressed confidence in Shubman Gill‘s potential for a standout performance in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Highlighting Gill’s recent form and growth as a batter, Manjrekar believes that everything is falling into place for the young Indian cricketer. He predicted that Gill could make a significant impact on the global stage, showcasing his talent and consistency when it matters most.
“What really stood out in that performance today was how easily he got to his hundred. I have seen in the past [Sachin] Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, when you look up and you think the batter is on 60 or 70. He’s got a hundred. This is the hallmark of an exceptional player in 50-over cricket,” Manjrekar remarked during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo.
Additionally, Manjrekar said that given his current prowess with the bat, the Indian vice-captain can grab the attention of the cricketing world even more during the Champions Trophy 2025 as an exceptional batter for India in limited-overs cricket.
“This is the tournament [Champions Trophy] which will perhaps make us notice Shubman Gill even more in comparison to all the others who’ll also turn up. It seems at this stage he’s able to balance his game of attack, defense, and rotating the strike better than T20 cricket and Test cricket that we saw in Australia,” Manjrekar added.
Gill was the standout performer for India in the 3-match ODI encounter against England. The youngster was the top-scorer of the series with 259 runs in 3 innings to his name. Gill played an emphatic 112-run knock off 102 balls which paved the way for India to put together a mammoth total of 356 runs in the final match of the series.
Also Read: Top 5 highest individual scores in Champions Trophy history
Gill’s impressive record in ODIs
Gill has established himself as one of India’s most promising batters in the 50-over format. In 47 ODIs, he has accumulated 2,328 runs at a remarkable average of 58.20, showcasing his consistency and ability to anchor the innings. His strike rate of 101.74 highlights his capability to balance aggression with stability, making him a crucial asset in India’s batting lineup.
Gill has already registered six centuries and 13 half-centuries. His highest individual score of 208, a double century, further cements his reputation as a dynamic top-order batter. His ability to pace his innings, rotate the strike efficiently, and accelerate when needed makes him a formidable presence at the crease. With his exceptional technique and adaptability, Gill continues to be a vital component of India’s ODI squad and his performances will be closely watched in the lead-up to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
