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India will begin their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.
Rohit Sharma led India to the final of ICC ODI World Cup 2023. (PTI Photo)
The Indian selection committee is expected to meet in a couple of days to finalise the squads for the upcoming white-ball matches against England at home and the Champions Trophy. It’s likely that Rohit Sharma will be remain India ODI captain for the ICC event scheduled for next month.
As per reports, Rohit’s dipping numbers in Test cricket will have no bearing on his ODI future and he will be announced as the captain whenever the India squads are named for the three-match ODI series against England at home and the Champions Trophy.
In the lead up to the marquee tournament, India will host England for a five-match T20I series followed by three ODIs.
Rohit had a tough tour of Australia where he led India in three Tests of the five-match series which the tourists lost 1-3. He managed just 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.20.
While his slide in Test cricket might have raised concerns, Rohit remains an ODI behemoth. The last time he led India in an ICC tournament was the 2023 ODI World Cup where they finished runners-up. Rohit finished as the second-highest run-getter of the competition with 597 runs from 11 innings at an average of 54.27 and a strike-rate of 125.95.
India legend Yuvraj Singh recently defended the under-fire duo of Rohit and Virat Kohli following their below-par show in Australia Tests.
“People are criticising Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli a lot but they forget what they’ve achieved in the past. They are two of the greatest cricketers of this time. It’s ok they lost, they are more hurt than us. I am sure India will bounce back,” Yuvraj told PTI.
Meanwhile, as per a report in The Times of India, KL Rahul will not be part of the England white-ball matches.
“Rahul has been assured of his spot in the Champions Trophy. Hence, he will be rested from the England series” the daily quoted a source as saying.
