After a disappointing Test season, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rediscovered their form in the ODI format, helping India clinch the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Before India won the 2025 Champions Trophy, India endured a horrific Test season where they lost 6 Tests in 8 matches. They also suffered an embarrassing 0-3 Test series whitewash against New Zealand at home earlier. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two veterans, struggled to score runs, and calls were made for their retirement from the game. Captain Rohit has to drop himself from the fifth Test against Australia at Sydney due to his poor returns Down Under.
RO-KO eyed redemption by winning the Champions Trophy, and two legends did it in style. Not only did they put the Test losses behind, but they also managed to lessen, if not erase, the heartbreaking final loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup against Australia.
Let’s take a look at how RO-KO have turned things around with the bat, and taken India to their third Championship Trophy. Read More: CT 2025, Final, IND vs NZ: India prevail in close game, win seventh ICC title
Here’s how the two stalwarts performed in the Test season and the ODIs following it:
Virat Kohli | Test | Runs | Average | 50s/100s |
vs NZ | 3 | 93 | 15.5 | 1/0 |
vs AUS | 5 | 190 | 23.75 | 0/1 |
Total | 8 | 283 | 17.68 | 1/1 |
ODIs | Runs | Average | 50s/100s | |
vs Eng | 2 | 57 | 28.50 | 1/0 |
CT 2025 | 5 | 218 | 54.50 | 1/1 |
Total | 7 | 275 | 45.83 | 2/1 |
Rohit Sharma | Test | Runs | Average | 50s/100s |
vs NZ | 3 | 91 | 15.16 | 1/0 |
vs AUS | 3 | 31 | 6.20 | 0/0 |
Total | 6 | 122 | 11.09 | 1/0 |
ODIs | Runs | Average | 50s/100s | |
vs Eng | 3 | 122 | 40.66 | 0/1 |
CT 2025 | 5 | 180 | 36.00 | 1/0 |
Total | 8 | 302 | 37.75 | 1/1 |
Kohli shrugs off poor Test season
Irrespective of the team’s performance, RO-KO first realised the importance of scoring runs for the team. They have had to get back to scoring the fifties and tons as the team was dependent on them to set the platform for the middle-order to carry forward the momentum. And the two legends did it in style. They not only made their bat do all the talking but also ensured that they contributed towards the team’s victories. Kohli made two fifties and a ton in seven ODIs since the Test season. His brilliant ton against Pakistan and a fifty against Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinals helped him get back to contributing towards the team’s victories.
After the win in the semi-final against Australia, Kohli said, “For me, it's all about taking pride and doing the job for the team. And if I get to the three-figure mark, great. If not, nights like these, you win. It's a happy dressing room.” Read More: Virat 'Chase-master' Kohli: Dissection of his match-winning knock against Pakistan
Rohit roars back to form
Rohit struggled in the Test season – both as a player and captain- but comes the ODIs, he was back to doing his best – demolishing the bowling attack and setting the platform for batters to finish off the games. He struck a vital ton in the ODI series against England. In the Champions Trophy, he provided a rollicking start in the company of Gill, culminating in a title-winning fifty in the final. Rohit was also astute as the ODI captain. He understood the conditions in Dubai and best utilised his spinners to stay unbeaten in the tournament.
RO-KO came as leaders to win second ICC titles in a row
RO-KO were the most experienced batters of the team in the 50-overs format. A lot of it is dependent on how the two not only fare as batters but also as leaders of the pack. While Rohit stayed in the limelight as the captain, scoring quick runs at the top and leading from the front, Kohli shared his valuable input during field placements and bowling changes to help Rohit out in the field. The two worked as a cohesive leadership team to not only get past their struggles with the bat but also help the team lift a morale-boosting trophy. In the process, they redeemed themselves of the 2023 heartbreaking loss and the embarrassing Test season. Read More: CT 2025, SF 1, IND vs AUS: Pandya's late cameo, Rahul's quickfire 42* take India into final
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