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Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali recently reacted to the reports suggesting that the 2025 Champions Trophy could be shifted to T20 format. He opined that the change of format won't be possible as star Indian batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have announced their retirements from T20Is.
Basit stated that the broadcasters and sponsors would never want at the Champions Trophy without Kohli and Sharma. Speaking in a video shared on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-expert said (from 39:07):
"Are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma coming out of retirement in T20Is? So, if they are not coming out of retirement, then how can the Champions Trophy be played in the T20 format? How will the sponsors and broadcasters accept the change in format without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja?"
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It is worth mentioning that India's senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is following the Men in Blue's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. Meanwhile, Pakistan are the hosts of the 2025 Champions Trophy. The ICC is yet to announce the schedule for the multi-nation tournament.
"Rohit should play like an ODI" - Basit Ali's suggestion to Team India skipper for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Indian captain Rohit Sharma failed to get going with the bat in the team's recently concluded second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.
He gave up his opening spot for KL Rahul and batted at No. 6. Sharma registered scores of 3 and 6 in the contest. Basit Ali believes that the Team India skipper should open the batting in the upcoming third Test.
Basit also reckoned that Sharma should play counter-attacking cricket, similar to what he did in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The 54-year-old said (from 34:28):
"Rohit played at No. 6 because of KL Rahul's performance in the first Test. Rohit should play like an ODI.
"I am just a kid in front of Rohit Sharma but he should play like ODIs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Just like how he played in the 2023 ODI World Cup, scoring 70-80 runs in 10 overs. Australian pacers bowl very fast. So, the ball won't seam much and will hit the bat quickly," he added.
The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played in Brisbane from Saturday, December 14.
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