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Muttiah Muralitharan believes India needs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in form to win the 2025 Champions Trophy, highlighting balanced subcontinental bowling attacks and spinners’ importance.
Rohit and Kohli will be key elements in India’s success in Champions Trophy 2025. (Image: AFP)
The Sri Lanka spin legend, Muttiah Muralitharan, feels that India will need both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to be in form for the Men in Blue to win the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. He also suggested that the subcontinental teams would have a more balanced bowling attack coming to the competition.
Both senior stars have been in the spotlight due to their lack of runs. But the Indian skipper roared back to form with a scintillating century against England in the 2nd ODI that took place in Cuttack on Sunday.
Muralitharan claimed that for players of their stature, it’s only a matter of time until they come to their very best.
“Definitely, because they are world-class players. Always say class is permanent (and) form is only temporary. So, they will come to the (batting) form,” Muralitharan told PTI Videos in an interaction during a launch event.
“Rohit has scored a hundred and Virat will also come to form. Definitely, they need to be in form in this tournament for India to win,” he added.
Subcontinent Teams Have Balanced Bowling Attacks
Muraliatharan also insisted that the wickets would assist the spinners more in both Pakistan and UAE and that the slower bowlers would have a bigger role to play in the coming tournament.
“There are a lot of good spinners in the world because if you take India, there are about four spinners in the squad and if you take Afghanistan, they (also) have a good spin attack (and) even Bangladesh. Every subcontinent country has good spinners,” he added.
“India has an all-round attack because they got very good spinners and fast bowlers as well. Even Pakistan has also got the same. These subcontinent countries have a balanced attack for this kind of playing conditions,” Muralitharan concluded.
India is in the final stage of preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 with the final ODI left to go before their trip to Dubai. The Men in Blue have already taken an unassailable lead in the three-match series after winning the first two games in convincing fashion. They play the final ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
