“Rohit’s ODI struggles could spell Trouble” warns Gautam Gambhir
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has been struggling with form lately. In the first ODI of the series against England, he returned after five months but was dismissed for just 2 runs in a 249-run chase. India, however, managed a four-wicket win.
Rohit’s rough patch extends beyond the ODI format. He had a forgettable performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring only 31 runs across five innings. His poor showings led him to miss the final Test of the series in Sydney.
Expectations for ODI Comeback
With the change in format, many expected Rohit to bounce back. However, his first ODI in months didn’t go as planned. Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in, stating that if Rohit’s struggles persist in the 50-over format, it could become a serious issue.
In a conversation with ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar called ODIs the “best format” for any top-order batter to regain form. He said, “If Rohit struggles to get runs and a big score in ODIs, then we have a problem.” He emphasized that ODI cricket offers the best opportunity for a batter to return to form, especially for someone like Rohit who bats in the top three.
Focus on Rohit and Kohli
India’s next challenge is the second ODI on Sunday in Cuttack. While Rohit will be looking to recover his form, attention will also shift to Virat Kohli. Kohli missed the first ODI due to a knee injury, and if fit, there will be questions about which player he replaces in the XI.
Interestingly, after India’s win in the first ODI, Shreyas Iyer revealed that he had been asked to replace Kohli in the lineup, sparking a debate about Kohli’s spot in the team on social media. With both Rohit and Kohli under scrutiny, the upcoming match promises to be a crucial one for India’s star players.
