Kohli and Rohit have come under the scanner for their underwhelming display in the recently held BGT.
Indian batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have come under the scanner for their underwhelming display in the recently held Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under.
Kohli began the marquee series with a second innings hundred (100*) at Perth, but he managed to amass only 90 runs in his other eight innings combined.
On the other hand, Rohit was all over the place in the marquee series, managing just 31 runs in five innings at an abysmal average of 6.20 -- the lowest by a touring captain on Australian soil.
The subpar performances of the two senior players drew considerable criticism, sparking speculation about their potential retirement from Test cricket.
Amid the scrutiny, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has highlighted the significance of Kohli and Rohit for India’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.
The duo excelled as India’s leading run-getters in the 2023 ODI World Cup and played a vital role in the team’s T20 World Cup triumph last year.
"Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli holding the tricolor, that picture is etched in my mind," Kaif said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
"They looked determined after losing the ODI World Cup final and went on to win the T20 World Cup. You need them for the Champions Trophy. One is 37 years old, another is 36. They won't play much longer. Give them your blessings because they are great players who still have much to offer."
Kaif also spoke about their contrasting yet complementary styles. "Rohit provides the start by batting faster, and Kohli builds on that foundation, batting till the end. If they play well, only then you can win matches in Dubai."
He also pointed out the challenging conditions in Dubai, where the average first-innings score in ODIs has been just 198 in the last 10 games. "Batting is tough in Dubai. India must adapt well to win matches there," he stated.
Contrasting Dubai with Pakistan, Kaif emphasized the batting-friendly wickets across the border. "In Pakistan, the average first-innings score is nearly 300, and the flat conditions favour batters like Klaasen, de Kock, and Markram. Teams need strong bowling to succeed there."
India squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.