'Are Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma Coming Out Of Retirement?' : Ex Pak Star On Format Change Of Champions Trophy 2025

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Champions Trophy 2025: Basit Ali, Pakistan's ex star cricketer, recently shared his thoughts on the possibility of the 2025 Champions Trophy being moved to a T20 format.

He expressed skepticism about the change, pointing out that it wouldn't be feasible, especially since prominent Indian cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have already announced their retirements from T20 internationals.

''Are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma coming out of retirement in T20Is? So, if they are not coming out of retirement, then how can the Champions Trophy be played in the T20 format? How will the sponsors and broadcasters accept the change in format without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja? ", Ali said on his YouTube channel.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faces a challenging situation as it struggles to come to terms with the current reality. Its firm stance on avoiding any hybrid model for the Champions Trophy leaves little room for compromise, especially without satisfactory concessions. Although Pakistan proposed a solution in the form of a tri-series with India and another nation, this suggestion was promptly rejected by both the BCCI and the ICC.

Meanwhile, the ICC is grappling with delays in fulfilling its contractual commitments, particularly with respect to adhering to critical deadlines. The 90-day period for meeting key milestones has already passed, putting broadcasters under significant pressure to promote the tournament effectively. Should the deadlock continue, there is a growing possibility that some stakeholders might push for a shift to a T20 format for the Champions Trophy- a format that is more marketable and quicker to organize compared to ODIs, which are increasingly seen as losing relevance as per a report by Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be next seen in action during the 3rd Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane, which starts from 14th December, Saturday. The series is locked at 1-1, with the hosts Australia bringing back parity with a comprehensive 10-wicket in the Adelaide Test.