Former India player Aakash Chopra has opened up on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s importance for the Indian team in their 2025 Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia. He further added that Australia have two left-arm pacers who could trouble India and urged them to do well. However, India will face Australia in the first semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday, March 4 as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Rohit and Kohli, Ro-Ko vs Australia is a love story. It’s a fascinating story because the opposition is big. No matter how weak the team might be looking from the bowling point of view, it’s Australia. Rule them out at your own peril. You cannot take them lightly at all. It is that kind of a team. So how do you compete? You look towards your seniors.”

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“Virat Kohli has already scored a hundred. I will talk about Rohit today because runs haven’t been scored thus far. He scored a decent 41 in the first match but it’s been two knocks since. Now is the time, you have to play slightly long. Both left-arm fast bowlers can trouble. Then you have to expect your big guns to come to the party,” Chopra further added.

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra also stated that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have great numbers against Australia, need to perform for India to reach the Champions Trophy final.

“Their ICC numbers are incredible. Their numbers against Australia are incredible. We will keep faith in them. There will be pressure on them. The Indian team will be dependent on them because if you have to beat Australia, you need runs from Rohit and Kohli. Those runs should come because if you lose here, don’t know when, where, and who will play the next ICC event. However, if you win here, there is a final. If you win there, the fourth ICC trophy. That will be a phenomenal story. So please do well, guys,” Aakash Chopra concluded.