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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s red-ball form has failed them but can they get their mojo back in their favorite format?
Rohit Sharma (left) and Virat Kohli. (AFP Photo)
Suresh Raina has thrown weight behind his former teammates, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Raina said both players are ‘tigers’ who can overcome their poor form and ‘live up to reputation’ in the multi-nation tournament which kicks off on February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE.
India didn’t play many ODIs in 2024 and as Kohli and Rohit both retired after a middling T20 World Cup, their form has been judged almost entirely on Test cricket. In that, they struggled for big scores consistently across three series — Bangladesh and New Zealand at home and Australia away.
“When a big, reputed batter is out of form, he wants to make it count the next time he goes out to the middle,” Raina said in a press event organised by Star Sports. “The player always wants to make the team and live up to his reputation. Both of them are not in form, but they are tigers. Virat Kohli at No.3 and Rohit Sharma as an opener, both can make the team win on their own.”
India will hope that with the return of ODIs, Kohli and Rohit can go back to their 2023 form, where they were the highest run-scorers with 765 and 597 runs, respectively.
‘Hardik Pandya will have the most important role’: Raina
Raina also spoke about India’s bowling attack, saying Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav, who’s coming back off a hernia surgery, will have key roles to play.
“Arshdeep Singh will be crucial alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah will be lethal against batters, but the most important role will be Hardik Pandya’s—when he bowls and whether he bowls in tandem with Kuldeep Yadav. Will Axar Patel play? Will Washington Sundar play? The combination matters. If it’s Hardik and Axar, the batting depth increases, which is advantageous.
“The middle overs will be critical. We’ve seen how Kuldeep bowled to Babar Azam and changed the game. He has worked hard at the NCA, refined his action, and now deceives batsmen more effectively. Rohit Sharma deserves credit for utilizing Kuldeep’s unique style. His action and bowling are different, and batters have to be extra cautious against him,” Raina said.
India will play Bangladesh on February 20 to open their Champions Trophy campaign.
