The BCCI has made a major change in India’s ODI cricket team. Shubman Gill will now lead the team as the new ODI captain for the upcoming tour of Australia. This decision was taken during the team selection for the limited-overs series and has started big discussions among fans and cricket experts.
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Many are now thinking about what this means for senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both have been selected for the three-match ODI series, but there is still doubt about how long they will continue playing in this format.
Reports say the decision to replace Rohit Sharma, who recently led India to a Champions Trophy win, was taken after long talks between BCCI officials, selectors, and the team management. The main reason behind this move is to prepare early for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The selectors considered many things, including the two-year gap before the next tournament, Rohit’s focus only on ODI cricket, and his limited game time recently.
Even though Rohit cleared all fitness tests, he has not played since the Champions Trophy. His last matches were during the IPL and the Champions Trophy. This lack of recent match practice reportedly played a key role in the final decision.
Virat Kohli’s future in ODIs is also being discussed. He is two years younger than Rohit, but there are still questions about how long he will continue. Both Rohit and Virat have been legends for India, but selectors believe depending on players aged 36 and 38 might be risky for the 2027 plans. The management feels it is important to make clear decisions now to give young players time to gain experience.
In the end, most BCCI officials agreed that Shubman Gill is the best choice for the future. He represents a young and long-term option for India’s ODI team. While Rohit and Virat are still in the squad for the Australia series, their place in future tournaments, including the next World Cup, will depend on their performance and how well the younger players perform in the coming years.