Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma hold the key for India to win the ICC Champions Trophy

In June 2024, Team India finally ended a drought of over a decade by winning an ICC trophy when they beat South Africa to claim the T20 World Cup. Now, they have a chance to end the 12-year-long wait for an ICC ODI title victory. Narrowly missing out on the 2023 ODI World Cup against Australia, India has a significant event ahead as the ICC Champions Trophy makes a comeback after eight years. While the previous season included the T20 World Cup victory, it didn't particularly conclude positively for the Rohit Sharma-led side. The squad saw what emerged as possibly their worst showing in the Test format. Ready to put the ghosts of that phase behind them, India has a fair chance at redeeming their standing in the sport.

How crucial would be Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in India's ICC Champions Trophy campaign?

The three-match India vs England ODI series did a fine job of projecting the team's standing in the format ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. The batting order had largely lost credibility after its dismal performance in the BGT. However, the change in formats brought a much-needed shift to the scene, with many prospects delivering convincing knocks. Shubman Gill, the vice-captain of the side, notched consecutive half-centuries before smashing a century in the final ODI at Motera. Shreyas Iyer, not even a primary part of India's plans initially, claimed a deserved spot in the middle order.

However, the brightest spot in the India vs England ODI series was the long-awaited comebacks of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Virat Kohli missed the opening ODI due to a swollen knee, while Rohit Sharma departed cheaply in the chase. The first ODI, despite starring performances by Gill and Iyer and the subsequent victory, didn't put the fans at ease. The skipper's two-run knock resembled his poor form from the past months, raising concerns about whether he had carried it into this format as well. However, in the next fixture, with India put to chase again, Rohit played a captain's knock, racing to a 30-ball fifty and later a well-constructed century. His heroics in Cuttack promised a timely comeback for the batter ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Though late, Virat Kohli also had his redemption as he notched a fifty in the final ODI in Ahmedabad. The former captain had fallen for just 5 in the second ODI upon his return to the format. However, he steadied himself in Ahmedabad, reaching a half-century before falling to Adil Rashid for a record eleventh time. While both Rohit and Virat's performances relieved the fans, they need to continue in the same vein in Dubai if India fancies its chances in the ICC Champions Trophy.

With Jasprit Bumrah out, the team can only invest so much hope in the bowling department. India's plan to carry five spinners in the 15-member squad is already a risky move. Moreover, without Bumrah, the pace department consists of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who have collectively played only 12 ODIs. Additionally, Mohammed Shami didn't look sharp in the India vs England series, where he returned after a year-long injury-marred hiatus. Thus, it’s a given that the batters need to do the heavy lifting for the team in Dubai.

While Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer look in fine form, the performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be of utmost importance. As India looks to finalize the right fit for the middle order while maintaining a left-right combination, the top order’s role becomes more defined. With only Gill as a stable option at the top, India can't make much of an impact unless Rohit Sharma steps up. A solid opening partnership that utilizes the powerplay effectively would require Rohit Sharma to replicate the form he showed in Cuttack. Moreover, Virat Kohli, with his ability to seamlessly anchor an innings, will be a key element, especially in the crucial group-stage fixture against Pakistan.

India, meanwhile, is set to start its ICC Champions Trophy campaign on February 20. Placed in Group A, their next fixtures are against Pakistan and subsequently New Zealand. A single loss in this short series could virtually rule a team out of the competition. Thus, India needs top performances in every match if they hope to end their ODI ICC trophy drought.