India will kick off their ICC Men’s Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai International Stadium. However, questions linger over the form of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, especially after their struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and their underwhelming performances in the Ranji Trophy.
Despite their recent form, former India batter Suresh Raina is confident that both Rohit and Virat will shine in the Champions Trophy, given their preference for the 50-over format. In India’s last ODI series against Sri Lanka in August 2024, Rohit was the only batter who found his rhythm, while Virat struggled significantly against spin.
Raina believes that Rohit’s aggressive batting approach will remain unchanged, just as it was during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he set the tone for India’s campaign.
“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,” Raina said on Star Sports.
Rohit also has extra motivation heading into the Champions Trophy. If India wins, he will become the only Indian player to have won four ICC tournaments as a player, surpassing MS Dhoni, with whom he currently shares the record of three titles. “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. He has already won the T20 World Cup, and securing the Champions Trophy would be a remarkable achievement. He will be motivated to make it happen, but scoring runs will be crucial for him,” Raina added.
Apart from his batting, Raina also praised Rohit’s leadership skills. “Rohit Sharma is an attacking captain. The way he utilizes 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,” he said.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli will look to build on his record-breaking 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, where he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar for the most centuries in the format. While Rohit played an attacking role at the top, Virat provided stability at No. 3. Raina believes the duo complements each other well and will be crucial to India’s success.
“Rohit Sharma’s strike rate has improved significantly after the ODI World Cup 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,” he explained.
Before the Champions Trophy, India will face England in a three-match ODI series at home, beginning February 6 in Nagpur. Raina believes these games will help Virat regain his rhythm, especially at high-scoring venues like Nagpur, Ahmedabad, and Cuttack.
“When it comes to white-ball cricket, Virat knows how to switch on and switch off. He has scored the most runs against England, so his energy will be at a different level automatically,” he said.
With the Champions Trophy fast approaching, all eyes will be on Rohit and Virat to lead India’s charge once again.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
