Kapil Dev's stern advice to Rohit Sharma amid poor form
What's the story
Indian cricket team skipper, Rohit Sharma, is now battling a major slump.
His last 10 innings in all formats have produced disappointing scores worth 2, 3, 9, 10, 3, 6, 18, 11 and zero.
The once-dominant batter hasn't crossed the half-century mark since October last year.
Meanwhile, this slump comes amid reports of off-field issues and possible discord in the team.
Here's more.
Upcoming challenge
Champions Trophy 2025: A crucial test for Rohit Sharma
The upcoming Champions Trophy is viewed as Rohit's litmus test.
His preparation for the tournament was tainted by an early and cheap dismissal in the first ODI against England, where he managed only two runs off seven balls.
Amid this situation, India's 1983 World Cup-winning team captain Kapil Dev has shared his views on Sharma's situation and its possible effect on the team.
"When the captain's form is poor, the team has problems," Kapil said on Cricket Adda's YouTube channel.
Expert opinion
Kapil Dev's candid assessment of Rohit Sharma's form
Meanwhile, Kapil Dev said he hopes Sharma returns to form quickly and stated, "He is a big player. I hope he returns to form quickly," he said.
Dev acknowledged that a captain's poor form can pose challenges for the team, emphasizing the crucial role Sharma's performance plays in the team's overall success.
He further added, "The whole country is looking forward to the side's performance. In the recent times, the side played well for some time."
Fan reaction
Dev addresses fans' reactions and Bumrah's fitness concerns
Dev also spoke about the fans' disappointment over the team's recent performance and stated "The team has not done well, it's justified that the fans are angry. So, when they do bad, criticism follows."
He also spoke about concerns over Jasprit Bumrah's fitness ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Bumrah, who has been out of action due to a back injury since January, is a key player whose absence could heavily impact the team's performance in the upcoming tournament.
Future prospects
Selectors' ultimatum and Raina's prediction for Sharma
According to a Times of India report, selectors have urged Sharma to decide on his future after the Champions Trophy.
This decision holds significance as the team management strategizes for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and the ODI World Cup.
Former cricketer Suresh Raina predicted that if Sharma finds his form before the Champions Trophy, he will evolve into a distinct and dynamic captain with a unique approach.
Stats
A look at the Indian skipper's ODI numbers
The Indian Test and ODI skipper owns a whopping 10,868 runs across 266 ODIs. He also boasts an average of 48.95 including a strike rate of 92.39.
He also owns 31 tons and 57 fifties.
His highest ODI score reads 264, which he hammered against Sri Lanka in 2014.
Notably, Rohit is only 132 shy of completing 11,000 runs in ODIs.