Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin believes that if Rohit Sharma maintains his current form, India stands a strong chance of winning the Champions Trophy. Rohit, who had been struggling across all formats, made a stunning comeback in the 2nd ODI against England in Cuttack, scoring his 32nd century. Before this innings, the Indian skipper had endured a lean patch, managing just 166 runs in his previous 16 outings.
Rohit reached his century in just 76 balls, smashing 12 boundaries and 7 sixes. His knock played a crucial role in India’s four-wicket victory over England. Speaking to PTI, Azharuddin praised Rohit’s return to form, emphasizing that it had come at the perfect time ahead of the Champions Trophy. He extended his best wishes to the Indian captain for the upcoming tournament.
“Best wishes to Rohit Sharma for a successful Champions Trophy. If he performs well in the tournament, I have no doubt that India will emerge victorious. His return to form has come at the perfect time,” Azharuddin remarked.
During the match, Rohit also surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs as an opener for India across all formats. Azharuddin lauded Rohit’s perseverance, noting that despite struggling for runs, he never gave up and kept pushing forward. He also congratulated Rohit on breaking Tendulkar’s long-standing record.
“He is a phenomenal player who never gave up, even during tough times with the bat. From what I heard, he played exceptionally well yesterday. Records are meant to be broken, and I congratulate him on surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s milestone. I hope he continues this form and excels in the Champions Trophy,” he added.
Amid criticism and speculation about his place in the team, some had even suggested that Rohit consider retirement. However, Azharuddin stated that such a decision rests solely with Rohit, as he best understands the demands of the game.
“It’s entirely Rohit’s decision to make. Only a player who is actively involved in the game truly understands its intensity,” Azharuddin concluded.
India will face England in the final ODI of the series on February 12 in Ahmedabad. This match presents Rohit with one last opportunity to solidify his form before leading India into the Champions Trophy in Dubai, where their campaign will begin against Bangladesh.