Muttiah Muralitharan, the legendary Sri Lankan spinner, believes that for India to lift the Champions Trophy 2025, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli need to be in top form. The two senior stars have faced some criticism due to their recent struggles with the bat, but Muralitharan remains confident that they will return to their best.
Rohit has already made a strong comeback, scoring a brilliant century in India’s victory over England in the second ODI in Cuttack. Muralitharan emphasized that for players of their calibre, form is just a temporary phase and their class will shine through.
“Class is permanent, form is only temporary. They will find their best form again,” Muttiah Muralitharan told PTI Videos. “Rohit has already scored a hundred, and Virat will soon return to form as well. For India to win the tournament, they both need to be in form.”
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The spin legend also noted that the pitches in both Pakistan and the UAE will favour slower bowlers, making it crucial for subcontinental teams to have a strong spin attack. “There are many good spinners worldwide. India has four quality spinners in their squad, and so do countries like Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Every subcontinent team boasts strong spin options,” he said.
Muttiah Muralitharan also praised India’s well-rounded bowling attack, from spinners to pacers who would excel in these conditions. “India has a well-balanced attack with top-class spinners and fast bowlers. Pakistan, too, has a similar set-up. The subcontinent teams have well-balanced bowling attacks for these conditions,” he added.
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With the Champions Trophy 2025 just around the corner, India is putting the finishing touches on their preparations. Having already sealed the series against England with two comfortable wins, the Men in Blue are set to play the final ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday before heading to Dubai.
