(Mumbai): India has been placed in a challenging group with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, and former cricketer Suresh Raina believes the form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be key to India’s chances.
The tournament, set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan, will see India play all their matches in Dubai due to a hybrid model agreement. Raina, speaking to Star Sports, praised Rohit’s recent form post the 2023 ODI World Cup, noting his impressive strike rate of 119-120. Raina emphasized that both Rohit and Kohli, with their strong track records, can have a massive impact on India’s performance, stating, “If they perform well, India’s Champions Trophy campaign will benefit immensely.”
On the team composition, Raina expressed confidence in Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel. He highlighted that the Dubai pitches may offer seam movement but would still support spin, making it crucial for India’s spinners to be in top form.
Before the Champions Trophy, India will play a three-match ODI series against England at home, which Raina believes will help players like Kohli and Rohit get valuable match practice. Raina noted that Kohli’s strong record against England would add to his confidence, and he expects him to perform well in the high-scoring venues of Nagpur, Ahmedabad, and Cuttack.
Raina also suggested that Rohit should maintain his aggressive approach at the top of the order, as seen in the 2023 World Cup. He also mentioned the key decision of who will open alongside Rohit, with Shubman Gill being a potential partner.
Praising Rohit’s leadership, Raina commended his attacking style and smart use of bowlers, especially bringing in Mohammad Shami at key moments. He added, “If Rohit wins this Champions Trophy, it could be his last ICC trophy as captain, making him the first Indian to win four ICC trophies.”
