The Indian cricket team has received some positive news ahead of the Champions Trophy, despite ongoing concerns about the form of key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Kohli was unable to play in the first ODI against England due to knee pain, while captain Rohit Sharma has struggled to find his rhythm. However, with two matches still to go in the series, there is ample opportunity for the pair to regain their footing.
Apart from Rohit and Kohli, other players are also playing their responsibility and contributing to the team’s success. This is a significant development, as the team’s reliance on these two players has often been a topic of discussion. In recent times, it has become clear that the team is no longer solely dependent on Rohit and Kohli to win matches. The rest of the players have started to understand their responsibilities and are stepping up to the plate.
Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer showed a fabulous temperament in their batting, with Gill playing a serious and well-constructed innings. He has started to understand the differences between T20 and ODI cricket, which has enabled him to play more effectively in the latter format. Iyer, on the other hand, brought a much-needed aggressive approach to the middle order. Additionally, Akshar Patel surprised everyone with his impressive batting skills, scoring 52 runs on 47 balls, including 6 fours and a six.
Akshar Patel also showed amazing hands in batting, which was an unexpected but welcome bonus for the team. His performance, combined with the contributions of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, has given the team a significant boost. Even when KL Rahul failed to deliver, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja were able to guide the team to the threshold of victory. If the rest of the players can continue to perform at this level and Rohit and Kohli can regain their form, the team will be a formidable force to reckon with, not just in the remaining ODIs but also in the Champions Trophy.