Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: With just a couple of weeks left for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, former India batter Suresh Raina shared his thoughts on how crucial star batter Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma’s form will be for the upcoming mega event and said that if the duo perform well, then India’s campaign will benefit immensely. In response to their struggles, both players have returned to domestic cricke to regain form ahead of the major tournament. But unfortunately, they could not get back among the runs. Rohit scored 3 and 28 in Mumbai’s match against J&K, while Kohli was bowled for 6 in Delhi’s game against Railways.
“Rohit Sharma’s strike rate has improved significantly after the ODI World Cup in 2023. Since then, he has scored runs at a strike rate of 119-120, making him one of India’s best ODI batsmen. For Rohit and Virat, I would say that when you have a strong record of past performances, it gives you a lot of confidence.
“They complement each other well, and both have the skill to score big runs. If they perform well, India’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy campaign will benefit immensely,” Raina said on Star Sports.
The Indian team is gearing up for the three-match ODI series against England, starting from Thursday, which will serve as a crucial test for India’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.
Speaking on his expectations from Rohit in the series, Raina said, “I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup—he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same. The key question is who will open alongside him—will it be Shubman? I remember, whenever they play together, they maintain an aggressive intent.”
“Rohit Sharma is an attacking captain. The way he utilises his bowlers is commendable—bringing in Mohammad Shami at crucial moments and relying on spinners strategically. When Rohit scores runs, it also reflects in his captaincy. This could be his last ICC trophy as captain, and if he wins, he will become the first Indian player to win four ICC trophies.
