Virat Kohli mentioned as serious concerns raised over Rohit Sharma's ODI consistency

Rohit Sharma might have smashed a record-breaking hundred in the third ODI against England, but the match-winning knock was not enough to convince Sanjay Manjrekar that the Indian captain would be able to carry the momentum into the 50-over format.

The seasoned Indian opener struggled for form throughout the 2024/25 Test season, averaging just 10.93 across 15 innings. However, in the second ODI against England in Cuttack, Rohit Sharma bounced back spectacularly, scoring a blistering 119 off 90 balls to lead India to a thrilling four-wicket win over England to secure the ongoing three-match ODI series in Cuttack.

Sanjay Manjrekar doubts Rohit Sharma’s ability to maintain form in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Despite such a strong performance under pressure, the former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar raised concerns about whether the 37-year-old opener can maintain consistency in the upcoming matches, especially in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and the major reason behind this is his fitness.

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Manjrekar made a valid comparison between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli while pointing out that the skipper looked visibly drained towards the end of his knock in Cuttack. He noted that playing ODI cricket is physically demanding for the players, but the players, like Virat Kohli, can score hundreds by running between the wickets, and Rohit can’t do that.

Virat Kohli's fitness will help him: Sanjay Manjrekar raises concerns over Rohit Sharma's fitness level

Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo, “You could see it took a lot out of him that inning. Fifty overs of cricket can be physically very demanding for bowlers, fielders, and batters. Virat Kohli knows how physically draining it can be, and that is why his fitness level has allowed him to still get those hundreds by running the ones and twos.”

Meanwhile, Rohit was once famous for his explosive acceleration after reaching 100s in ODI cricket, but he has recently adopted a more aggressive approach from the start. The Indian opener only once had a strike rate above 100 before 2021, but later he had strike rates of 114.22 in 2022, 117.07 in 2023, and 141.44 in three ODIs last year.

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He had remarkable World Cups in 2019 and 2023. Rohit had finished as the top scorer in the 2019 ODI World Cup with 648 runs in 9 matches, while he managed 597 runs in the last edition of the tournament. Well, Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rohit's different approach.

I have my doubts: Sanjay Manjrekar uncertain about Rohit Sharma's hammering at the ICC Champions Trophy

However, the cricket pundit has expressed doubt about whether Rohit can consistently perform at that level as he did in the past events in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Manjrekar explained his point by saying, “Rohit had a different template where he didn't have to run too much. It was amazing how he got his second double hundred.”

He signed off by saying, “But at this stage of his career, when you watched him go through the whole process and get that big hundred, he wanted it. Whether he can do it day in and day out like he did in 2019, we will have to wait and see. I have my doubts. But both versions of Rohit Sharma, 2019 and 2023, are excellent for Indian cricket.”