Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh praised captain Rohit Sharma’s ability to perform under pressure, noting that even when struggling, his capacity to score runs poses a threat to opponents. Despite Rohit’s recent dip in Test form, he has excelled in ODIs, scoring 163 runs in four innings during the tournament. Historically, Rohit has an impressive record against Pakistan, amassing 873 runs in 19 matches. Yuvraj emphasized Rohit’s knack for explosive scoring, which can decisively influence a game. Both teams head into the match with strong lineups and momentum.
As the highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan approaches in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai this Sunday, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh expressed his support for captain Rohit Sharma’s match-winning talent. He noted that Rohit’s ability to score runs even while facing difficulties can pose a significant threat to their opponents. In contrast to the 50-over and T20 World Cups, Pakistan holds a 3-2 lead over India in the Champions Trophy, having claimed a 180-run victory in the 2017 final at a time when star Indian batter Virat Kohli was in peak form. The Indian team is heading to Dubai with considerable momentum.
During a discussion on JioHotstar’s ‘Greatest Rivalry Returns,’ Yuvraj commented on Rohit’s impact, stating that it doesn’t matter whether Rohit is in form or struggling.
“In ODI cricket, particularly in white-ball formats, he has been one of India’s most formidable match-winners as a batsman, alongside Virat Kohli. If Rohit is not at his best but still manages to score, that is dangerous for the rivals. If he finds his rhythm, he can score a century in just 60 balls. That’s his strength—once he’s in the flow, he’s not only hitting boundaries; he’s also sending the ball over the ropes for sixes. He ranks among the finest players against short-pitched bowling. Even facing deliveries clocking 145-150 kmph, Rohit manages to hook them with ease. His strike rate typically lies between 120-140, and on a good day, he can single-handedly clinch the game for you.”
In 19 ODIs against Pakistan, Rohit has amassed 873 runs at an average of 51.35, with an average of 92.38 in successful chases, including two centuries and eight fifties, his highest score being 140.
Despite experiencing a significant drop in form during the 2024-25 Test season, which spanned from the home Tests against Bangladesh to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour in Australia—where he totaled only 164 runs across eight matches at an average slightly above 10, with just one half-century in 15 innings—Rohit has maintained a strong performance in ODIs. He has scored 163 runs in four ODI innings at an average of 40.75 and a strike rate of 120.74, featuring a brilliant century against England and a quick-fire 41 in just 36 balls during the Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh.
India squad for the Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan squad for the Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article