According to former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, the Men in Blue won the Champions Trophy in 2013 thanks to MS Dhoni’s wise leadership, which included moving Rohit Sharma to begin the batting with Shikhar Dhawan.
In the last series against England, Rohit scored an incredible 83 to solidify his position at the top of the order. Veterans like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and Harbhajan Singh were excluded by the selectors, but the young players stepped up and helped India win the cherished trophy for just the second time.
In the first match against South Africa, Rohit and Dhawan quickly clicked, adding 127 runs for the first wicket. Rohit ended fourth on the list, while Dhawan was the top run scorer. Raina recalled how the two worked well together and planned their innings in advance.
“That was a brilliant move. Take a look at their batting technique; they prioritised time over attempting to hit shots. When the delivery merited it, they launched an attack. Shikhar came out and took on the bowlers, while Rohit, who was technically extremely sound, wore the ball down before accelerating. Shikhar was an aggressive striker in his own right, and left-right combinations were always a problem for bowlers.
Suresh Raina stated on The Suresh Raina Experience: Champions Trophy Special that Rohit might strike a six at any time.
In the second match against the West Indies, Rohit and Dhawan added another century to their opening partnership. They then went on to score 58 and 77 runs against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, respectively, demonstrating their remarkable consistency.
“They formed alliances with ease. A 100-run stand soon became a 150-run one. They had a great deal of understanding and trusted one other’s calls, which made all the difference,” Raina continued.
Rohit is ready to lead India in the ninth Champions Trophy, which begins on Wednesday, February 19, while Dhawan has retired from both local and international cricket. On Thursday, the Asian powerhouses kick off their campaign at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium against Bangladesh on February 20.
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