Fri Feb 07 17:38:37 UTC 2025: ## India’s ODI Success Built on Shared Burden, Not Just Rohit-Kohli

**Nagpur, India** – India’s resounding 249-run victory over England in the opening ODI of the 2025 season showcased a potent, self-sufficient batting line-up, but also highlighted the fading partnership of veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

While India cruised to victory, Rohit managed only two runs off seven balls, and Kohli was sidelined due to injury. This underscores a shift in India’s ODI approach. Though Rohit and Kohli’s combined 5280 runs rank fifth among all ODI partnerships and second among Indian pairs, their recent contributions have been significantly less impactful. Since 2020, they’ve added only 539 runs in 16 innings, averaging a modest 33.68. Their last century partnership came in January 2020.

The decline of the Rohit-Kohli partnership, characterized by steady, large-score accumulations, has paradoxically fueled India’s aggressive batting strategy. Rohit’s explosive opening style (a remarkable 112.65 strike rate since 2020) has largely come at the expense of lengthy partnerships with Kohli. The emergence of Shubman Gill as a consistent opening partner has further lessened the reliance on a Rohit-Kohli alliance.

This shift has resulted in a more balanced batting order. While from 2013-2019, the top three (mostly Rohit, Kohli, and Dhawan) scored 59% of India’s runs, since 2020, the top three and the middle order (4-7) have contributed nearly equally, both significantly improving their strike rates. This collective approach, rather than dependence on two superstars, is driving India’s ODI success. While the legendary Rohit-Kohli double-century partnerships may be a thing of the past, India’s batting is demonstrably stronger for it.

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