India's captain Rohit Sharma wasn't too thrilled when asked if his rough patch would end with the ODIs returning, a format that earned him the nickname 'Hitman.' Now that he's stepped back from T20Is, he's been struggling in Test cricket. Since the home series against England, where he was India's second-highest scorer after Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit has only managed to hit one fifty in 15 innings. He’s also been dismissed for single-digit scores a staggering 10 times during this stretch.

During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when retirement chatter was buzzing, Rohit made history by being the first Indian captain to drop himself from the playing XI, even though he was fit and ready for the final Test against Australia in Sydney. He only managed to score 31 runs throughout the series.

With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, Rohit and fellow star Virat Kohli are back in the mix. Both have dominated this format for over a decade. Before the three-match ODI series against England leading up to the Champions Trophy, Rohit was asked if returning to white-ball cricket would help him feel more comfortable after his tough time in Test matches.

A reporter kicked off the pre-match conference before the first ODI in Nagpur by asking Rohit, "Are you feeling confident about batting in the format that earned you the Hitman nickname, even though your Test runs haven't been great lately?"

Rohit took a moment before responding, "What kind of question is that? This is a different format and a different time. As cricketers, we know there will be highs and lows. I've dealt with that plenty in my career, so this isn't anything new. Each day is a fresh start, and every series is a new opportunity. I'm excited for the challenge ahead and not dwelling on the past. Clearly, you don't either. I have no reason to look back; I've had a lot of good moments. It's crucial for me to focus on what's in front of me. I want to kick off the series on a strong note and see where it takes us."

In 2024, Rohit had a tough time, averaging under 25 in 14 Tests, marking his lowest yearly average.

Rohit also seemed to get a bit frustrated later in the press conference when another reporter asked about rumors regarding the BCCI seeking clarity on his future after the Champions Trophy.

"How is it relevant for me to discuss my future plans when we have three ODIs and a Champions Trophy coming up?" Rohit replied. "These reports have been around for years, but I'm not here to address them. My focus is on these upcoming games, and we'll see what happens after that."

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