Shubman Gill Takes Over ODI Captaincy Amid Rohit Sharma's Surprising Exit
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 4: The cricket community was taken aback by the announcement of Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain for the upcoming tour of Australia. A former Indian cricketer expressed his astonishment at Rohit Sharma's removal from the captaincy, suggesting that Rohit could have continued leading the team for this tour while allowing Gill more time to prepare for the role.
Rohit's Achievements and Surprising Change
Rohit Sharma, who recently celebrated victories in two major white-ball tournaments—the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy—was unexpectedly replaced as captain after a disappointing loss to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final. Despite a remarkable 10-match winning streak in the World Cup and an unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, the management opted for a fresh leadership approach.
Harbhajan Singh's Take on the Leadership Shift
During a segment on JioHotstar's 'Cricket Live', Harbhajan Singh congratulated Gill on his new role and acknowledged his promising start as Test captain, which includes a hard-fought series draw against England and a significant victory over the West Indies in Ahmedabad. Harbhajan remarked, “Congratulations to Shubman Gill. He has been leading well in Test cricket, and now he’s tasked with leading the ODI side. However, it’s surprising to see Rohit not captain anymore, especially after winning the ICC Champions Trophy.”
Rohit Sharma's Impressive Record
Rohit concludes his captaincy with an impressive record of 42 wins in 56 ODIs, resulting in a win percentage of 76%. His leadership style, characterized by an aggressive approach, has significantly influenced the team's performance, shifting the focus from a conservative strategy to a more dynamic style of play.
Future Prospects for Rohit and Shubman
Harbhajan expressed that Rohit should have been given the opportunity to lead the team on this tour, especially with the next ODI World Cup still years away. He believes that Shubman has ample time to adapt to his new role. While he is pleased for Gill, he feels that the transition could have been postponed to allow Rohit to continue leading.
Support for Shreyas Iyer's Vice-Captaincy
Harbhajan also praised Shreyas Iyer's promotion to vice-captain, highlighting his contributions and impact on the team. He noted, “I’m thrilled for Shreyas Iyer. He’s an impactful player who often goes unrecognized. His performance in the World Cup was remarkable, and I look forward to seeing how he and Shubman lead the team together.”
Upcoming ODI and T20I Series
The three-match ODI series is set to commence on October 19, followed by a five-match T20I series starting October 29. The Indian ODI squad includes Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), and others, while the T20I squad features Suryakumar Yadav (C) and Shubman Gill (VC).