Rohit Sharma’s captaincy of Team India in Tests and ODIs is facing scrutiny following his lackluster performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The seasoned player was absent for the first Test, which India won in Perth, with Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as the acting captain. Upon his return from paternity leave before the second Test, things took a turn for the worse, culminating in a disappointing 1-3 series defeat.

In addition to his subpar performance, several controversies have emerged that have not aided his standing as skipper. Reports of leaks from the dressing room surfaced, and Rohit ultimately chose to withdraw from the final Test due to his struggles. Furthermore, media speculation suggested that there might be a rift between him and head coach Gautam Gambhir, raising questions about his future as captain.

However, during a press conference on Saturday, Ajit Agarkar announced India’s squad for the upcoming England ODIs and the 2025 Champions Trophy, reaffirming Rohit’s captaincy as he was included in the squad. The announcement took place in Mumbai and was made in the presence of Rohit.

During the press conference, Rohit addressed inquiries regarding his relationship with Gambhir, particularly following the dressing room leak allegations. He stated, “Both of us are very clear on what we wanted to do. I am not going to sit here and discuss what goes behind the scenes, every game tactically.”

He further emphasised, “It’s very clear in my mind. Gautam Gambhir is someone who trusts the captain on the field once we enter it. The discussions happen off the field, and when we take the field, it’s all about my decisions. That’s the kind of trust we share, and that’s how it should be.”

According to reports, Gambhir has expressed concerns about discipline within the Indian squad during the Australian series. Additionally, there are suggestions that the relationship between Gambhir and Rohit may have deteriorated, with another senior player reportedly lobbying for the captaincy position.

In the Vijay Hazare Trophy final held in Vadodara on Saturday, Karnataka set a formidable target of 349 runs for Vidarbha. After winning the toss, Vidarbha opted to bowl first. Karnataka experienced a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 67 runs. Captain Mayank Agarwal contributed 32 runs, while Devdutt Padikkal and KV Anish managed 8 and 23 runs, respectively.

However, Smaran Ravichandran’s crucial century of 101 runs stabilized the innings, allowing Karnataka to reach a total of 348 for 6 in their 50 overs at Kotambi Stadium. Ravichandran forged a vital partnership of 160 runs with KL Sreejith (78) for the fourth wicket, with Sreejith striking 9 fours and a six in his innings.

Following his dismissal at the score of 227, Ravichandran teamed up with Abhinav Manohar to add another 106 runs for the fifth wicket, where Ravichandran completed his century in just 89 balls.

Smaran’s innings included 3 sixes and 7 fours, and he played a noteworthy knock amidst pressure when Vidarbha was on top. After his dismissal for 101, Abhinav Manohar continued the attack with a blistering 79 runs off just 42 balls, featuring 4 sixes and 10 fours. Ultimately, Karnataka reached 348 runs for 6 wickets.

Vidarbha’s bowlers, including Darshan Nalkande and Nachiket Bhute, who claimed 2 wickets each, had strong initial spells, but as the innings progressed, Karnataka’s batsmen proved overwhelming.

With a challenging total on the board, all eyes will be on Vidarbha captain Karun Nair, who has been in sensational form, scoring 752 runs in his last seven innings at an astonishing average of 752. Nair’s recent scores include 112, 44, 163, 111, 112, 122, and 88, with all but one of those runs coming in unbeaten knocks.

Vidarbha (Playing XI): Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Shubham Dubey, Apoorv Wankhade, Harsh Dubey, Nachiket Bhute, Yash Kadam, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Thakur.

Karnataka (Playing XI): Mayank Agarwal(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Aneesh KV, Smaran Ravichandran, Krishnan Shrijith(w), Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Hardik Raj, Prasidh Krishna, Vasuki Koushik, Abhilash Shetty.

India’s cricket selectors have finalized the national squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, confirming the inclusion of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and the return of veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami. Led by Rohit Sharma, with Shubman Gill as the vice-captain, the team is gearing up for a significant cricketing event scheduled to unfold across Pakistan and Dubai.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, during a recent press briefing, highlighted the conditional inclusion of Bumrah pending a fitness clearance, expected to be provided by the BCCI’s medical team in early February. In light of this, Harshit Rana has been added to the squad for the three-match ODI series against England, providing additional cover for Bumrah.

The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams competing in 15 matches of 50 overs each. The high-stakes game between India and Pakistan is set for February 23 in Dubai, promising to be a major highlight. India kicks off its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, concluding the group stage with a match against New Zealand on March 2.

Group A comprises the current trophy holders and hosts, Pakistan, alongside India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Group B includes the 2023 Cricket World Cup champions Australia, Afghanistan, England, and South Africa.

Ahead of the Champions Trophy, India will face England in a three-match ODI series starting February 6, following a five-match T20I series beginning on January 22 in Kolkata. The T20 series will see matches played across various cities including Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai, where the series finale will be held on February 2.

The full roster for the Champions Trophy features Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.