Shubman Gill took over the ODI leadership baton from Rohit Sharma.
The BCCI Men’s Senior Selection Committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, took a tough call of removing Rohit Sharma as ODI captain when they sit together to pick the squad for the upcoming Australia tour on Saturday (October 4).
Despite leading India to the Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year, the 38-year-old Rohit was not considered for the leadership role. With the ODI World Cup scheduled in two years’ time, the baton was passed over to Shubman Gill, who was also named the Test skipper following Rohit's retirement in May 2025.
Speaking to Star Sports, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said it would be a new challenge for Gill but was shocked to see Rohit being axed as the ODI captain despite producing results.
Under Rohit’s leadership, the Men in Blue won the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 while they also reached the final of the ODI World Cup in 2023.
"Gill has been given another responsibility to lead the team in ODI as well. Of course, it's going to be a new challenge for him. He hasn't done that before."
"Rohit obviously has been replaced as a captain by Shubman and Rohit is someone who holds a very good record in in white-ball cricket. To be honest, It is a little bit shocking news for me to see Rohit not being captain and but selected," said Harbhajan, who feels that Rohit should have been given at least the Australia tour as captain.
"I thought if at all he was going to Australia, he would have been captain again. He just won the Champions Trophy and other tournaments as well, so I think he's been one of the pillars of Indian cricket when it comes to white-ball cricket. So I think he should have given that at least this tour," Harbhajan added.
According to Harbhajan, there was still time for the 2027 World Cup and Shubman Gill could have taken over the role in a year's time.
"If you want to think of 2027 World Cup that's still very far. Shubman can obviously wait a little bit and probably take the team forward after maybe in 6 or 8 months or a year. There is still a lot of time for that. But yeah, I'm happy for Shubman, but at the same time I'm a bit disappointed for Rohit Sharma not being the captain," he remarked.
Shubman Gill's tenure as India’s ODI captain will begin on October 19 against Australia in Perth.