There are significant issues within the Indian team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as reports indicate unrest in the dressing room following India's loss in Melbourne. The team is currently trailing 1-2, with the final Test scheduled in Sydney. Concerns are particularly focused on two key players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Rohit's performance and captaincy are under scrutiny, while Kohli's consistent dismissals outside the off-stump have raised alarms for the management. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has not confirmed whether Rohit will be included in the playing XI for the Sydney Test, and discussions regarding the future of both players have extended to the limited-overs format.

With the Champions Trophy approaching next month, India faces challenges if both star batters remain out of form for this prestigious tournament. Nevertheless, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson dismissed worries about their current struggles.

"I don't believe that their recent poor form will significantly affect Rohit Sharma and Virat's performance in one-day cricket. The conditions in Dubai will be different, and one-day cricket tends to liberate both players," Watson stated.

He expressed confidence in Kohli’s remarkable ODI statistics—295 ODIs, 13,906 runs, an average of 58.18, with 50 centuries and 72 fifties.

"Kohli is an exceptional talent in one-day cricket."

"Indeed, he excels in all formats, but particularly in ODIs. His extraordinary statistics over an extended period, averaging around 57 with a strike rate of 93, are remarkable, showcasing his control over his innings."

Rohit could be back to best

Watson also suggested that Rohit could return to form in ODIs, referencing his performance during the 2023 ODI World Cup.

"We can expect to see that again in the Champions Trophy. Rohit, as demonstrated in the one-day World Cup (2023), was at his peak, actively taking charge of the game."

It is considerably more challenging to achieve that in Test cricket. He has struggled to establish that equilibrium during his time in Australia. However, when he steps onto the field for one-day matches, he tends to unleash his full potential. This is when we witness the finest performances from Rohit Sharma.

Therefore, I would be quite astonished if he does not excel in the Champions Trophy, especially considering that his time in international cricket may be limited. I am confident that he will play without restraint, he further remarked.

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