In a significant move signaling a transition in Indian cricket leadership, the national selection committee, led by chairman Ajit Agarkar, has appointed young opener Shubman Gill as the new captain of the One-Day International (ODI) team. This decision comes despite Rohit Sharma recently leading India to victory in the prestigious Champions Trophy in March in the UAE.
A Difficult Decision for the Future
The announcement was made in Ahmedabad following India's emphatic innings and 140-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test. Agarkar admitted it was a tough call to remove Rohit Sharma from the captaincy but emphasized the need to plan for the future. The 2027 Cricket World Cup, scheduled for South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October-November 2027, is a clear focal point for this change.
"Obviously at some stage you got to start looking at where the next World Cup is," Agarkar stated. He explained that with very few ODI matches being played currently, the selectors felt it was necessary to make leadership decisions early to give the new captain ample exposure and time to build the team.
New Leadership and Squad Composition
Shubman Gill, who has been in stellar form, will captain the ODI side for the upcoming tour of Australia. He will be supported by vice-captain Shreyas Iyer. The squad sees the return of senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as specialist batters. However, in a notable omission, star all-rounder and Test vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja, who was the Player of the Match in the Ahmedabad Test, has been left out of the ODI squad.
Agarkar clarified that Jadeja's exclusion was based on conditions in Australia, where the team management felt two left-arm spinners were unnecessary. "It was not possible to take two left-arm spinners to Australia," he said, referring to Axar Patel's presence in the squad. He assured that Jadeja remains in contention for future assignments.
The selectors have also made it clear that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to play domestic cricket when available to maintain their sharpness. "That is the only way you can remain sharp, by playing cricket. We have been clear over the last two years that if you are available, you are expected to play in domestic cricket," Agarkar asserted in a no-nonsense manner.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Agarkar stressed that the squad selected is specifically for the Australia tour and does not guarantee selection or omission for the 2027 World Cup. "As far as the '27 World Cup is concerned, I don't think we need to talk about it today," he remarked. However, the overarching vision is undeniable. The move to appoint Gill is a strategic step to build a captain with sufficient experience leading into the next global ODI event.
The decision marks the end of Rohit Sharma's tenure as ODI captain, making him the only Indian captain to lose the leadership role after winning a major ICC trophy. Despite this, Agarkar was full of praise for Rohit's contributions, stating that even if India had not won the Champions Trophy, the captaincy change would have been a difficult decision due to his immense service to Indian cricket.
The full ODI squad for the Australia tour is: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal.
