Rohit Sharma’s celebrated era as India’s ODI captain has come to an end, with the BCCI officially announcing Shubman Gill as his successor. The decision, though strategic, carries a heavy heart – emotion for millions of fans who have seen Rohit evolve from a promising opener to one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history.
Rohit, 38, led India with composure and consistency, steering the team to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup and breaking a long-standing ICC title by lifting the 2024 T20
World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Yet, with his retirement from Test cricket and limited appearances in other formats
According to the chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar, the leadership change was made keeping the future in mind. “It’s practically impossible to have three different captains for three formats. At some point, we had to start preparing for 2027,” Agarkar explained, as Gill was named captain ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Australia starting October 19 in Perth.
Shubman Gill, now 26, has steadily grown into a dependable name in Indian cricket. With his maturity, consistency, and calm temperament, he represents the next generation of leadership that India aims to groom for the long run. Having already taken over the Test captaincy earlier this year, Gill now holds responsibility in both red-ball and white-ball formats.
For Rohit, this transition marks the end of an illustrious captaincy run – 56 ODIs, 42 wins, and a remarkable 75% success rate. His legacy lies not just in numbers but in the emotions he evoked – the smiles after victories, the grace in defeats, and the belief he instilled in his men.
As the leadership passes to Gill, Indian cricket stands at the crossroads of nostalgia and new beginnings – bidding farewell to a leader who gave it his heart, and welcoming one who promises to take the dream forward.