Rohit Sharma will no longer be the captain of India’s ODI cricket team. The BCCI made this change before the three-match series against Australia later this month.
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| Image Source: India Today |
Shubman Gill, who is already the Test captain, has now become the ODI captain as well. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play under Shubman Gill’s leadership in the upcoming series.
The reason behind this decision is that the BCCI did not want the team culture to be disturbed. A source told the Times of India that Rohit Sharma, being a very strong leader, would want to bring his own way of leading the team. Since he only plays in ODIs now, which is the format with fewer matches, this might have created problems in keeping the team's unity and culture.
Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of India, was quiet in managing the team in his first six months. But after India lost important Test series to New Zealand and Australia, Gambhir took more control over the team. He, along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, wanted to make sure the team is strong and steady, especially before the 2027 ODI World Cup.
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| Image Source: NDTVSports |
Ajit Agarkar said it was not practical to have three different captains for the different formats of the game. Having one strong leader who leads in all formats makes it easier for planning and team harmony.
The fact that Rohit and Kohli are both in their late 30s was also a factor. Gambhir and Agarkar worried that if their form dropped suddenly, it would cause problems in the leadership group. They want to avoid any chaos by giving Shubman Gill enough time to lead and manage the team.
Rohit Sharma has been a very successful captain. He won many matches and helped India win big tournaments. Even though he is no longer captain, he will still be an important player in the team. Shubman Gill, at the young age of 26, is seen as the future leader who can help India prepare well for the coming big events.
The Indian cricket team named Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad for the Australia tour, with Shreyas Iyer as the vice-captain for ODIs. The upcoming series will be important to see how this new leadership team works together.