With less than two weeks remaining before India embarks on their campaign for another ICC title at the Champions Trophy 2025, concerns persist over the form of their key batter and skipper Rohit Sharma. The experienced cricketer has been struggling to find his rhythm across formats, managing just 2 runs in the recent ODI against England in Nagpur.

Rohit’s lean patch has been evident, with only 166 runs scored in his last 16 innings across formats. His dip in performance even led him to step aside from India’s playing XI for the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia last month. The scrutiny surrounding his form continues to intensify, with former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledging the pressure Rohit Sharma faces as captain of the ODI side.

Reflecting on the situation, R Ashwin pointed out the challenges Rohit must be experiencing. He noted that from the batter’s perspective, such a phase can be frustrating, especially when the focus is on delivering strong performances in a crucial series. He said that Rohit would naturally want to carry forward the confidence gained from past performances in one-day tournaments. However, Ashwin acknowledged that questions about his form are inevitable and will persist until he starts scoring runs consistently.

Expressing his empathy, Ashwin emphasised how difficult it is for any player to navigate such a rough patch. He voiced his hope and said that he is praying Rohit Sharma will overcome this phase and deliver a century in the ongoing three-match series against England.

Meanwhile, India has made a positive start in the series, securing a four-wicket victory in the opening match against England. Shubman Gill played a crucial role, scoring 87 runs and earning the Player of the Match award. The focus now shifts to the second ODI, which is set to take place in Cuttack on Sunday, where India will look to build on their lead.

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