Rohit Sharma To Pull Out Of Champions Trophy? This Indian Captain To Take Charge

Rohit Sharma is going through a very tough phase in his international career. The last four months have been the toughest for him across formats. He struggled with 31 runs in five Test innings down under during the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 before stepping down from the fifth clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

There were so many expectations around his position for the ongoing three-match Test series against England at home ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Rohit Sharma’s recent international struggles

The Nagpur-born cracked just 91 runs in six innings at home during the three-match Test series against New Zealand. The Kiwi spinners exposed the veteran’s technique against the spinners, as he couldn’t handle the pacers as well during the series.

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However, he looked a different person altogether during the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka. The Mumbai batter was the leading run-getter of the series, thanks to 157 runs in three innings at an average of 52.33. The most impressive part of the record was his strike rate of 141.44 with the help of two half-centuries, thanks to 18 boundaries and eight over boundaries.

He has smashed overall 10868 runs in 258 innings at an average of 48.95 and a strike rate of 92.39, shouldering on 31 centuries and 57 centuries at the best score of 264. It would be hard for anyone to replace the quality of Sharma, especially at the last minute before an ICC event.

Rohit Sharma’s record in the Champions Trophy

Rohit’s ODI graph went up when MS Dhoni decided to promote him to the opening position during the 2013 Champions Trophy. The 37-year-old was India’s second and the event’s fourth leading run-getter of the competition with 177 runs in five innings at an average of 35.40 and a strike rate of 76, thanks to two half-centuries at the best score of 65.

In the last season of the Champions Trophy in 2017, the experienced batter was the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. He smacked 304 runs in five innings at an average of 76 and a strike rate of 86.85, thanks to two half-centuries and one century at the best score of unbeaten 123 runs.

When it comes to his record at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Rohit Sharma has grabbed 317 runs in just five ODI innings at an average of 105.67 and a strike rate of 93. He celebrated one half-century and two centuries at the ground at the best score of unbeaten 111 runs.

This all-rounder to lead India in Rohit Sharma’s potential absence

The recent reports have highlighted that if Rohit doesn’t get his form back in the England ODIs, then he could opt out of the Champions Trophy. In the opening clash at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, he failed with just two runs in seven deliveries.

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He tried to time the length ball from Saqib Mahmood into the leg side but was slow to get the bat on, as the ball ballooned in the air before Liam Livingston grabbed a fine catch to send the home captain back in the hut.

Reports also claimed that if Rohit Sharma steps down from the competition, then Hardik Pandya will lead the side, despite Shubman Gill shouldering the vice-captaincy responsibility. The last two games in Cuttack and Ahmedabad will be huge for Rohit Sharma to get back in form.