NAGPUR: India skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday insisted his recent Test struggles were just part of the “ups and downs” of a long career as he looks to rediscover his form in three One-day Internationals against England.

The two teams will begin the ODI series on Thursday in Nagpur with an eye on the upcoming 50-over Champions Trophy.

Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli, who both retired from T20 internationals following India’s World Cup win in the shortest format last year, join the ODI set-up after India beat the visitors 4-1 in the preceding T20 series.

Sharma and Kohli have been short on runs in Tests, with the captain scoring just 31 in three matches when India lost 3-1 in Australia.

“This is a different format, different time,” the 37-year-old Sharma told reporters. “As cricketers there will be ups and downs and I have faced a lot in my career. This is nothing new to me. We know every day is a fresh day, every series is a fresh series.

“It’s important that I focus on what is coming up and what lies ahead for me, look to try and start this series on a high.”

Sharma averaged less than 25 with the bat in 14 Tests in 2024 — his lowest ever average for a calendar year.

“How is this relevant that I talk about my future plans sitting here where there are three ODIs and a Champions Trophy coming in?” he said.

“The reports are going on for a number of years but I am not here to clarify those reports. My focus is on these games, we will see what happens afterwards.”

Meanwhile, India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is racing against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy starting February 19 after he missed the final day’s play of the Sydney Test in Australia in January due to a back injury.

Sharma said an update on his recovery and return will be available once a report on his scans is received in about two days.

Mohammed Shami will lead India’s pace attack in the ODIs after recovering from a heel injury.

Meanwhile, England captain Jos Buttler on Wednesday said Joe Root will play a “crucial role” in India on his ODI return and as they build up to the Champions Trophy.

The 34-year-old Root last played an ODI at the 2023 World Cup in India.

“He’ll bat number three,” Buttler told reporters of Root, who was not involved in the T20 series. “He’s one of the great players of the game, so in all the formats here he’s obviously been a vital part of ODI cricket for England for a long time,” he added.

Brendon McCullum is coaching England for the first time in white-ball cricket and wants to bring the same fearless approach.

“If I look back at that World Cup, the two teams in the final were playing a really positive and aggressive round of cricket,” Buttler said of the 2023 one-day final, in which Australia beat hosts India.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2025