Kohli and Rohit’s form will be key for India in Champions Trophy 2025: Suresh Raina

After a 4-1 T20I series win against England, the Indian team is gearing up for the three-match ODI series against the same opposition, which will serve as a crucial test for India’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina shared his thoughts on the upcoming series as well what lies ahead for Rohit Sharma and Co., going into a multi-team event for the first time since their 2024 triumph in the T20 World Cup in June.

"I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup—he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same. The key question is who will open alongside him—will it be Shubman? I remember, whenever they play together, they maintain an aggressive intent," Raina told Star Sports.

"Rohit Sharma is an attacking captain. The way he utilises his bowlers is commendable—bringing in Mohammad Shami at crucial moments and relying on spinners strategically. When Rohit scores runs, it also reflects in his captaincy. This could be his last ICC trophy as captain, and if he wins, he will become the first Indian player to win four ICC trophies. He has already won the T20 World Cup, and securing the Champions Trophy would be a remarkable achievement. He will be motivated to make it happen, but scoring runs will be crucial for him," he added.

Speaking on how crucial Virat Kohli and Rohit’s form will be for India, Raina said, "Rohit Sharma's strike rate has improved significantly after the ODI World Cup in 2023. Since then, he has scored runs at a strike rate of 119-120, making him one of India's best ODI batsmen. For Rohit and Virat, I would say that when you have a strong record of past performances, it gives you a lot of confidence. They complement each other well, and both have the skill to score big runs. If they perform well, India's ICC Men’s Champions Trophy campaign will benefit immensely."

"When it comes to white-ball cricket, Virat knows how to switch on and switch off. He has scored the most runs against England, so his energy will be at a different level automatically. The three ODIs will be played in Nagpur, Ahmedabad, and Cuttack—all of which are high-scoring venues," he added.

Speaking about the spin department and team combination, the former cricket added: "I think Jadeja will definitely play because of his effectiveness in ODIs. Kuldeep has not played a match since his injury, but we also have Axar Patel, who has been consistently performing well. The pitches in Dubai will offer some seam movement, but spin will also play a role. That’s why Kuldeep, Axar, and Jadeja need to be in top form. Rohit's choice of team combination will be crucial."