New Delhi: Not too long ago, it would have been iniquitous to even contemplate not having Rohit Sharma in India’s ODI squad. The Indian captain enjoyed a tremendous ODI World Cup in 2023 where he was the self-declared flagbearer of India’s new-found brand of cricket. The Hitman was firing all guns blazing at the top, providing India with quick starts and setting the tone for their victories one after another until the final.
That World Cup performance earned him his place back in T20Is along with the captaincy and it was all going well as the Hitman became the oldest to lead India to T20 World Cup glory while the team became the first undefeated champions of the tournament. But a few months down the line Rohit is no more a certainty for India in ODIs despite having given up T20Is.
It may sound unfair to many after the Indian skipper recently rolled back the years with a vintage ton against England in the ODI series earlier this month, showcasing he has still got it in him. However, Rohit’s future in ODIs depends on his performance in the Champions Trophy 2025.
The upcoming multi-nation tournament that gets underway on Wednesday will more or less decide if Rohit will continue to be a part of India’s plans in ODIs or will the team management have to press the reset button, asking the senior batter to move on. The tournament will be as important to head coach Gautam Gambhir, if not more as a lot will be at stake for the captain-coach duo.
Final shot at redemption for Rohit Sharma?
The world was at his feet after Rohit led India to T20 World Cup glory last year but little has gone his way since the memorable triumph. A humiliating Test series defeat against New Zealand at home followed by a 3-1 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has raised series questions on Rohit the captain.
His batting hasn’t helped his case as Rohit has struggled for consistency and has failed to score big runs. He finished with a mere 36 runs from 3 Tests in Australia with an average of just over 6, the lowest by a touring captain in a Test series in Australia. He did look in splendid touch en route to his 32nd ODI ton in the 2nd ODI of the recently concluded ODI series against England at home but barring the 119-run knock, he did little in the series to inspire confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Rohit will continue to open for India in the Champions Trophy where he will be tested by some quality bowling attacks, in a format that he has dominated in the last decade. In challenging conditions in the UAE, Rohit’s form will be crucial for India. But scoring runs won’t just be enough for the Indian captain. With his ODI future on the line, nothing less than a title triumph would help.
The Champions Trophy 2025 could be a final shot at redemption for the senior batter, who will turn 38 this April and will be 40 by the 2027 ODI World Cup. No Indian player has featured in an ODI World Cup aged 40 and there is little guarantee that Rohit would be the first to do so unless he takes India to glory at the Champions Trophy and does so emphatically.
India would want to press the reset button if everything doesn’t go right in the Champions Trophy as any new skipper, who takes over from Rohit will need time to build his team and have the best possible preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rohit has reportedly already been told to spell out his future after the Champions Trophy and only he could pre-decide the exact script with his returns in the tournament.
A lot at stake for Gautam Gambhir in Champions Trophy
It will be an equally important tournament for head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has had a tumultuous time in the last few months. While India have done well under Gambhir in white-ball cricket, they have struggled massively in Test cricket. India suffered back-to-back Test series defeats against New Zealand and Australia to miss out on a spot in the WTC 2023-25 final for the first time since the inception of the tournament.
While Gambhir’s tactics have come under the scanner, the head coach has also been questioned over his selection calls. Many have pointed fingers at the continuous selection of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Harshit Rana, who has had a remarkable rise in stature and has replaced injured Jasprit Bumrah in India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.
If all goes well in the tournament, Gambhir’s rapport and his say in selection matters will enhance further. However, if India falter in the Champions Trophy things can go downhill for the former India opener, who has been often called out for not sticking to his words and doing exactly the opposite of what he used to preach as an expert on television before becoming the India head coach.
Champions Trophy 2025 will also be a litmus test for the Gambhir-Rohit pairing as it will be the first major challenge for the coach-captain pair. The tournament also presents an opportunity for India to bag their second successive ICC trophy after winning the T20 World Cup last year. India will start the tournament as arguably the favourites but will need a lot of things to go their way in order to lift the elusive trophy for the first time since 2013.
The Champions Trophy 2025 could decide the fate of the Rohit Shamr-Gautam Gambhir pairing for India going forward as a lot will be at stake for the duo in the multi-nation tournament. Both Rohit and Gambhir would want to inspire India to glory in the UAE for different reasons. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
