DOHA: India captain Rohit Sharma and veteran batsman Virat Kohli enter the upcoming Champions Trophy under intense scrutiny, with questions lingering over their form and future in international cricket.
India start their campaign against Bangladesh tomorrow in a Group A match away from home and Pakistan, the original venue, in Dubai.
The two stalwarts face mounting pressure to prove they remain indispensable to Indian cricket.
The 37-year-old Rohit and 36-year-old Kohli displayed flashes of brilliance in India’s recent 3-0 ODI series sweep against England, but concerns persist following their prolonged struggles in Test cricket. Both players stepped away from T20 internationals after India’s World Cup triumph last year, fueling speculation about how long they will continue in ODIs and Tests.
While neither has publicly addressed retirement plans, Indian media reports suggest Rohit may be under pressure to decide by the end of the tournament. His omission from India’s final Test against Australia has only deepened doubts over his red-ball future.
The Indian cricket board has encouraged contracted players to participate in domestic cricket to regain form, but both Rohit and Kohli struggled in recent outings. Rohit scored just 3 and 28 for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, while Kohli managed only six runs off 15 balls for Delhi.
