With a dominant 3-0 whitewash against England, Team India has emphatically silenced its critics, proving that class is permanent despite recent setbacks. The Men in Blue, reeling from consecutive series defeats under Rohit Sharma against New Zealand (at home) and Australia (away), have finally rediscovered their lost form. And the driving force behind this resurgence? The return to form of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma himself. Before this series, India’s top order had come under intense scrutiny, with calls for the heads of aging veterans Rohit (36) and Kohli (34) growing louder. Critics lambasted their inconsistent performances, questioning their place in the ODI squad, especially after both opted out of the T20 format. But in a spectacular turnaround, they answered their detractors most fittingly—by letting their bats do the talking. Kohli and Rohit, alongside KL Rahul, put on commanding displays, proving why experience matters in crunch situations. The final ODI was a brutal statement of India’s dominance, dismantling Jos Buttler’s England side by a staggering 142 runs.
A result of this magnitude was enough to send critics into overdrive, debating whether the selectors had made a mistake by retaining Rohit and Kohli. But Head Coach Gautam Gambhir—under fire himself for his coaching approach—stood firm. He, along with the BCCI selection committee, reaffirmed their faith in these world-class players, refusing to bow to public pressure. And rightly so. Legends cannot be written off after a few poor series. As India gears up for the ICC Champions Trophy next week, the team appears more confident and balanced than ever. With a reinvigorated batting lineup, India is poised to make a serious bid for the title. The group stage will be an immediate litmus test, with a clash against Bangladesh on February 20 followed by the much-anticipated showdown against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23. However, one significant concern lingers—India will be without their pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out despite recovering from an injury sustained in the Australia series. His absence leaves a void in the bowling attack, one that the rest of the squad must collectively fill. Still, momentum is everything in cricket, and this emphatic series win has put India in pole position ahead of a crucial tournament. Kohli’s return to form, Rohit’s captaincy resurgence, and the overall batting firepower suggest that this Indian squad is ready to chase glory once again. The critics may have been loud, but Team India has spoken louder—with its performances on the field.