Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, is currently facing significant challenges in his cricketing career. Whether in Test matches, One Day Internationals, or the Ranji Trophy, runs appear to have eluded him entirely. Over the course of 16 innings across various formats, he has accumulated a mere 166 runs. The year 2024 has proven to be particularly difficult for him as a Test batsman, with his average falling below 25 for the first time in a calendar year. Following directives from the BCCI, Rohit participated in a Ranji Trophy match after nearly ten years, yet he could only score 3 and 28 runs.

Expectations were high for Rohit in the three-match ODI series against England, especially as he was returning to a format he had dominated for over a decade. However, the large crowd at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur was left disappointed when Rohit, after being greeted with enthusiasm as he entered the field, managed to last only seven balls in the first ODI. Attempting to play a flick shot on a harmless delivery from Saqib Mahmood, he mistimed his shot and was dismissed for just 2 runs.

This marked Rohit's seventh single-digit score in his last ten international innings. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina noted that the Jamta pitch was conducive for Rohit to regain his form, but he failed to take the necessary time to gauge the wicket's pace. "I believe this wicket would have been favorable for Rohit Sharma’s return had he been more patient," Raina commented on Sports18.

With less than two weeks remaining before India's opening match against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy, Rohit's current form poses a significant concern for the Indian team management.

Raina, who has extensive experience in white-ball cricket and has witnessed the rise of Rohit Sharma as a prominent figure in Indian cricket, remarked that if Rohit manages to accumulate runs in the upcoming two ODIs in Cuttack and Ahmedabad, a transformed captain will emerge for the Champions Trophy.

"The team is heading to Cuttack, where he has the potential to excel. Should he regain his form prior to the Champions Trophy, we can expect a different style of captaincy and approach from him," Raina stated.

India commenced the series with a victory, thanks to impressive bowling displays from Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Harshit, complemented by explosive batting performances from Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill. However, there are concerns regarding the fitness of another key player, Virat Kohli, who was sidelined in the series opener due to a knee injury.

"This raises the critical question of whether Virat Kohli will be fit in time, as it is essential for the top three batsmen to play together in these two matches leading up to the major tournament," Raina added.

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