Will form be an issue for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma going into the Champions Trophy 2025? Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson doesn’t think so. Right now, the senior pros are going through a rough patch. Both are struggling for runs in the ongoing India vs Australia Test series.
Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli’s form rut
Kohli did start well, scoring a hundred in Perth to kick things off, but since then has scored 62 runs at 12.40. For Rohit Sharma, things have been much worse. He’s scored fewer runs than Akash Deep and Nathan Lyon. Faced fewer balls than Scott Boland. As of now, he’s averaging just 6.20. But it’s not like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is an aberration; in his last 15 Test innings, the Indian captain averages just 10.93.
Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma’s BGT 2024-25 stats
| Innings | Runs | Balls Faced | Average | 50s | 100s | Highest Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 7 | 167 | 315 | 27.83 | 0 | 1 | 100* |
| Rohit Sharma | 5 | 31 | 110 | 6.20 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
However, Watson doesn’t think their performance in the India vs Australia Test series will be an issue. The two-time ICC Champions Trophy winner reckons that format would suit both Rohit and Kohli. They are great in both formats, but if one were to choose their best format, it would be 50-over/ODI cricket.
Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli, ready for ICC Champions Trophy?
The ICC Champions Trophy ‘trophy tour’ has been going on, and the coveted trophy has been in Australia since December 25. Talking with reporters in Sydney, Watson was asked about the Indian stars, to which he said, “I don’t think it’ll really play a part with Virat and Rohit’s impact in ODI cricket. One-day cricket really frees them both. Kohli is a master of one-day cricket. He has extraordinary numbers over a long period of time, averaging around 57. It’s crazy to think about the control he has over his innings, and we’ll see that again in the Champions Trophy.”
“Like we saw in the ODI World Cup, when he was at his very best, he was taking on everyone. It’s more difficult to do that in Test cricket. Rohit Sharma hasn’t been able to find that balance here in Australia. When he goes back to ODIs, he lets loose, and that’s when you see the very best of him. I’d be really surprised if he doesn’t do well knowing that he doesn’t have a lot of time left in international cricket,” Watson said on Rohit Sharma.
Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma’s ODI stats
| Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | Highest Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 283 | 13906 | 58.18 | 93.54 | 50 | 72 | 183 |
| Rohit Sharma | 257 | 10866 | 49.16 | 92.43 | 31 | 57 | 264 |
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