Indian skipper Rohit Sharma could be given a break for the Men in Blue’s last group-stage match of the 2025 Champions Trophy against New Zealand, a report from The Indian Express stated. The match will be held on Sunday, March 2, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India and New Zealand have already qualified for the semifinals and hence this game is of less importance in terms of qualification. Rohit Sharma’s team began their campaign with a huge win against Bangladesh and then had another victory against Pakistan.
Notably, there have been some concerns about Rohit’s fitness. In the high-intensity battle against Pakistan, the Indian captain seemed to be struggling with his hamstring after making a long run to the boundary while in the field. He then walked off the field for a while, with vice-captain Shubman Gill leading the team in his absence.
Rohit Sharma To Be Rested For Precautionary Reasons
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With the rapid turnaround between the last group-stage game and the semifinals, the Indian management may decide to rest Rohit to prevent any chance of worsening his injury.
Although the result of the match between India and New Zealand won’t impact semi final qualification, it will establish the Group A leader. Being the group topper may create a tactical advantage in the knockout rounds, so the match is important even if both teams have already qualified.
Rohit Sharma’s Scores in Champions Trophy 2025
The Indian captain has been in top form with the bat throughout the tournament so far. In the first game against Bangladesh, he hit a smooth 41 from 36 balls with seven boundaries at a strike rate of 113.89. In the game against Pakistan, he again started off well, scoring 20 off 15 balls with three fours and a six at a strike rate of 133.33.
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As the semifinals near, India’s attention will be on keeping their main players in prime condition. If Rohit is given a break, the team management would probably look to a reserve opener to replace him for the last group-stage match.
