Fri Feb 07 12:39:07 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma’s Slump Continues: Captain Struggles for Runs Despite Format Switch
**Nagpur, India** – Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s prolonged batting slump continued in the first ODI against England, raising concerns about his form ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. The 36-year-old was dismissed for just two runs, extending a worrying trend that has seen him manage only one half-century and ten single-digit scores in his last fifteen international innings. His last 50+ score was back in September 2024.
Sharma’s poor form even extended to the Ranji Trophy, where he scored only 3 and 28 for Mumbai. His struggles prompted his omission from the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. While he insisted in a pre-match press conference that he was focused on the ODI series and not dwelling on his past performances, his dismissal only served to further highlight the severity of his predicament.
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed concern, stating that the ODI format, typically advantageous for top-order batsmen, presents an ideal opportunity for Sharma to regain his form. He emphasized that a continued lack of substantial scores would be a significant problem for India.
Sharma’s defense of his own poor form echoed his earlier defense of Mohammed Shami, who was returning from injury. While Sharma called for patience regarding Shami’s performance, the captain’s own struggles remain a major talking point as India looks to clinch the ODI series against England.
First Piper 