“We’ll see that again in the Champions Trophy” - IPL legend makes huge statement on Rohit Sharma before BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Former Australian cricketer and ICC ambassador Shane Watson expressed confidence that Rohit Sharma will be at his best during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, noting that his recent struggles in Test cricket won’t affect his performance in ODIs.

This statement comes amid rumors that the veteran batter could be dropped for the fifth Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins on January 3 in Sydney. Since joining the team ahead of the second Test, Rohit has struggled to make an impact, with India losing two of the last three matches and the 37-year-old scoring just 31 runs in five innings.

While speaking to the media during the Champions Trophy Tour in Sydney, Watson stated that he would be surprised if Rohit doesn't deliver a strong performance in the upcoming marquee event. He said:

"I don't think it (current poor form) will really play a part at all with Rohit Sharma and Virat's impact in one-day cricket. It's going to be different conditions where they're playing in Dubai. One-day cricket does really free them both as well. We'll see that again in the Champions Trophy. Rohit, like we saw in the one-day World Cup (2023) when he was at his very best, he was taking on the game.”

"It's more difficult to be able to do that in Test cricket. He hasn't been able to find that balance here in Australia. But when he goes out for the batting in one-days, he lets loose. That's when we see the very best of Rohit Sharma. So I'd be very surprised if he doesn't perform really well in the Champions Trophy, knowing that he probably doesn't have a lot of time left, whatever that is, but a lot of time left in international cricket. So I'm sure he'll let the handbrake off,” Watson added.

Rohit Sharma is India's fourth-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, having amassed 10,866 runs in 265 matches at an average of 49.16, including 57 half-centuries and 31 centuries.

Meanwhile, India will kick off their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign with a match against Bangladesh on February 20. They will then face arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 and conclude their group stage against New Zealand in early March. All of India's games are scheduled to take place in Dubai.

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“Absolute master of one-day cricket” - Shane Watson on Virat Kohli

In the same conversation, Shane Watson also praised Virat Kohli for his remarkable ODI stats, describing him as an "absolute master." The 43-year-old added:

“Kohli is an absolute master of one-day cricket. Yes, he's a master of all formats, but especially ODIs. You see his extraordinary numbers over a long period of time, averaging around 57 and a strike rate of 93 over a long period of time. It's crazy to think the control that he has over his innings.”

The Delhi-born cricketer has scored 13,906 runs in 295 matches at an average of 58.18, with 72 half-centuries and a record 50 centuries.