Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: As the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan showdown in the ICC Champions Trophy approaches, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has voiced strong support for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, emphasizing his match-winning abilities.
Unlike the 50-over and T20 World Cups, Pakistan holds a 3-2 advantage over India in the Champions Trophy, including a dominant 180-run victory in the 2017 final. With momentum on their side, Pakistan will enter the Dubai clash with confidence.
Yuvraj on Rohit Sharma’s Impact
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Greatest Rivalry Returns,’ Yuvraj Singh dismissed concerns about Rohit’s form, asserting that he remains India’s biggest match-winner in white-ball cricket alongside Virat Kohli.
“In ODI cricket, especially in white-ball formats, Rohit has been India’s biggest match-winner as a batsman, alongside Virat Kohli. If Rohit is struggling but still gets runs, that is dangerous for the opposition. If he is in form, he will score a century in 60 balls. That is his quality—once he gets going, he is not just hitting fours; he is clearing the ropes with sixes,” said Yuvraj.
He further highlighted Rohit’s ability to handle high-speed deliveries effortlessly: “He is also one of the best players of the short ball. Even if someone bowls at 145-150 kmph, Rohit has the ability to hook it effortlessly. His strike rate is always between 120-140, and on his day, he can single-handedly win you the game.”
Rohit’s ODI Record vs. Pakistan
In 19 ODIs against Pakistan, Rohit Sharma has scored 873 runs at an average of 51.35, with two centuries and eight half-centuries, boasting a best score of 140.
Despite struggling in the 2024-25 Test season, where he managed just 164 runs in eight matches at an average of 10.25, Rohit has maintained his strong ODI form. He has scored 163 runs in four ODIs in the Champions Trophy so far, with a strike rate of 120.74, including a century against England and a quickfire 41 off 36 balls in the opening game against Bangladesh.
Squads for Champions Trophy
India Squad: 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: 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.