ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma's future laid out

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson opened up about the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODI cricket as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaches. Shane Watson dismissed concerns about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's struggles in Test cricket, adding that it won't affect their ODI form.

India is dealing with unrest following their loss in Melbourne, which has put them behind 1-2 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There are growing concerns about Virat and Rohit’s form. Rohit is under scrutiny for his form and captaincy, while Kohli’s consistent failures outside the off-stump have raised alarms.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has not confirmed whether Rohit will be part of the playing XI for the upcoming Test in Sydney, starting on Friday, January 3. The debates about both players’ performances and future roles have now also extended beyond the Test format, reaching into the limited-overs game.

Shane Watson Opens Up on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's ODI Future

Shane Watson dismissed worries about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s recent poor form, adding it won’t affect their performance in limited-overs cricket. He pointed out that the conditions in Dubai will be different and that ODIs allow both players to express themselves more freely.

"I don't think it (current poor form) will really play a part at all with Rohit Sharma and Virat's impact in one-day cricket. It's going to be different conditions where they're playing in Dubai. One-day cricket does really free them both as well,” said Watson.

Virat Kohli Is an Absolute Master of One-Day Cricket - Shane Watson

Shane Watson highlighted Virat Kohli’s remarkable record in One-Day Internationals. Watson praised Kohli as a true master of ODIs, describing his numbers as extraordinary and "crazy" given the success.

"Kohli is an absolute master of one-day cricket. Yes, he's a master of all formats, but especially ODIs. You see his extraordinary numbers over a long period of time, averaging around 57 and a strike rate of 93 over a long period of time. It's crazy to think the control that he has over his innings," Watson added.

Rohit Sharma Was at His Very Best, Taking on the Game - Shane Watson

The 43-year-old said that Rohit Sharma could return to his best form in ODIs, drawing on his strong performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup as an example. Watson said that Rohit played aggressively and took on the game in limited-overs cricket.

"We'll see that again in the Champions Trophy. Rohit, like we saw in the one-day World Cup (2023) when he was at his very best, he was taking on the game.

"It's more difficult to be able to do that in Test cricket. He hasn't been able to find that balance here in Australia. But when he goes out for the batting in one day, he lets loose. That’s when we see the very best of Rohit Sharma."

"So I'd be very surprised if he doesn't perform really well in the Champions Trophy, knowing that he probably doesn't have a lot of time left, whatever that is, but a lot of time left in international cricket. So I'm sure he'll let the handbrake off,” he added.

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