Sanjay Manjrekar has offered key insights into how Rohit Sharma should approach his batting in India’s high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia. With the match set to take place in Dubai on March 4, all eyes will be on India’s skipper, who has yet to produce a standout performance in the tournament. So far, Rohit has managed just 76 runs, and his team will be hoping for a captain’s knock when it matters most.

Manjrekar believes Rohit should adopt a measured approach, focusing on batting deep into the innings rather than going for early fireworks. According to the former cricketer, this is not the kind of surface where teams will be aiming for massive scores like 350, making Rohit’s ability to anchor the innings crucial. He emphasized how the Indian captain’s stroke-making skills could be particularly effective in the middle overs, especially against Australia’s spinners.

“The key question is how Rohit Sharma approaches this match. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer will play in their usual styles. But Rohit has an opportunity to think long-term,” Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo. “If he stays at the crease, he can control the game against both pace and spin. His strike rate remains fairly consistent across both, which is a rare quality. That’s why it makes sense for him to play a longer innings and take on the spinners when the time is right.”

ALSO READ: Aakash Chopra comments on toss’ importance in 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final

Adding to the discussion, legendary Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble also weighed in on Rohit’s role in this knockout clash. While Kumble acknowledged Rohit’s natural attacking instincts, he stressed that if the opener can survive until the 20th over, India would be in a strong position to put up a formidable total.

“I completely agree that Rohit Sharma batting until the 20th over in the semi-final would be crucial,” Anil Kumble said. “Yes, he’ll continue playing his natural attacking game—he won’t hold back. But India needs him to do more than just provide a quick start. If he can extend his innings beyond the first 10 overs and take control of the middle phase, that could be a game-changer.”

So far in the tournament, Rohit has shown glimpses of form but has struggled to convert his starts into big scores. In India’s opening match against Bangladesh, he scored 41 but fell short of a substantial innings. Against Pakistan, he managed just 20 runs before Shaheen Afridi’s brilliant inswinging yorker rattled his stumps. His rough patch continued against New Zealand, where Kyle Jamieson dismissed him cheaply.

ALSO READ: “Varun Chakravarthy will certainly play” – Anil Kumble

With these performances in mind, the pressure is on for the Indian captain. Rohit will be itching to take on Australia, whether setting a target or leading a chase. Given the stakes of a Champions Trophy semi-final, his ability to balance aggression with composure could well determine India’s fortunes in this crucial encounter.