India captain Rohit Sharma was back in his elements as he slammed a stroke-filled 119 off just 90 balls to assist his team chase down a 305-run goal in 44.3 overs against England in Cuttack on Sunday. It was Rohit’s first century within the ODI format after over 450 days. With the century, Rohit surpassed Sachin’s record of scoring most centuries for India after turning 30. Currently, Rohit has 36 international tons after he turned 30. Commenting on the feat, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin was ecstatic and it couldn’t have come at a greater time with the Champions Trophy 2025 just days away.
“He’s amazing, class player, but runs were deserting, but he got going yesterday. I didn’t see the match, but I heard that he batted thoroughly. Records are supposed to be broken, I congratulate him for breaking the record. I wish him all one of the best for the Champions Trophy. I feel if Rohit Sharma clinks within the Champions Trophy, I even have little question we’ll win the Champions Trophy. I need to wish him all one of the best for Champions Trophy, his form has come at the appropriate time, I wish the team all one of the best. Like we won the T20 World Cup, we would like them to get the Champions Trophy as well,” Mohammad Azharuddin told PTI.
On Rohit’s retirement rumours, Azharuddin said: “It’s as much as him . All these decisions are best left for the person. Many individuals say ‘abhi retire ho jao‘. The player who plays know the way intense his feeling for the sport is.”
Rohit’s Test form took an enormous nosedive throughout the 2024-25 Test season, scoring just 164 runs in eight matches and 15 innings at a mean of 10.93, including 31 runs in six innings against Australia throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy away from home.
Nevertheless, in ODIs, he has been a force to be reckoned with since 2023. At all times a white-ball giant, Rohit’s ODI form went a notch as he mixed powerplay aggression with consistency, scoring 1,533 runs in 32 matches and 31 innings at a mean of 52.86 at a large strike rate of 119.76, with three centuries and 11 fifties. His best rating is 131.
The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy is ready to happen in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from February 19 to March 9.
The eight-team tournament will feature 15 50-over matches and will likely be played across Pakistan and in Dubai.
The largest match of the tournament between two arch-rivals India and Pakistan will likely be played on February 23 in Dubai. India will start its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. India’s last league match will likely be against Recent Zealand on March 2.
Group A of the tournament features current Champions Trophy holders and hosts Pakistan, together with India, Recent Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B features Cricket World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa.
Topics mentioned in this text
