With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has suggested that this could be Rohit Sharma's last ICC tournament as captain.

India prepares to kick off their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.

Raina believes that Rohit will be highly motivated to secure another major title before potentially stepping down from leadership. Rohit Sharma has already etched his name in history with three ICC trophies as a player. If he leads India to victory in the upcoming tournament, he will become the first Indian cricketer to win four ICC trophies.

Raina highlighted this unique milestone while speaking to Star Sports. "This could be his last ICC trophy as captain, and if he wins, he will become the first Indian player to win four ICC trophies. He has already won the T20 World Cup, and securing the Champions Trophy would be a remarkable achievement.

He will be motivated to make it happen, but scoring runs will be crucial for him," Raina stated. Despite recent struggles in red-ball cricket, both Rohit and Virat Kohli return to a format where they have historically excelled.

The duo were India's top two run-getters in the 2023 ODI World Cup, and Raina believes their performances will be key to India's chances. "Rohit Sharma's strike rate has improved significantly after the ODI World Cup in 2023. Since then, he has scored runs at a strike rate of 119-120, making him one of India's best ODI batsmen," he said.

He added, "For Rohit and Virat, I would say that when you have a strong record of past performances, it gives you a lot of confidence. They complement each other well, and both have the skill to score big runs. If they perform well, India's Champions Trophy campaign will benefit immensely.".

Captaincy, Strategy, and Team Combination

Raina also praised Rohit's aggressive captaincy, particularly his ability to make strategic bowling changes. He pointed out that Rohit's decision-making, especially in using bowlers like Mohammad Shami and spinners effectively, has been a key aspect of his leadership.

"Rohit Sharma is an attacking captain. The way he utilizes his bowlers is commendable-bringing in Mohammad Shami at crucial moments and relying on spinners strategically. When Rohit scores runs, it also reflects in his captaincy," Raina noted.

India has been placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. With all their matches set to be played in Dubai, conditions will likely favor spin, making the role of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel crucial in the campaign.

Before the Champions Trophy, India will play a three-match ODI series against England, which Raina believes will be a vital preparation phase for Rohit and Kohli. He also emphasized that Rohit should maintain his aggressive approach from the previous ODI World Cup.

"I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup-he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same. The key question is who will open alongside him-will it be Shubman Gill? Whenever they play together, they maintain an aggressive intent," Raina observed.