AUS v IND 2025: “Agar wo captain nahi hai, to aap unka future..”- Saba Karim questions Rohit Sharma’s inclusion for Australia ODIs

Rohit Sharma won the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC T20 World Cup as India captain.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were named in the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series in Australia. However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar dropped a bomb that Rohit Sharma was replaced as India's ODI captain by Shubman Gill.

Agarkar also confirmed that Rohit isn't a certainty in India's plans for the ODI World Cup in 2027. This has led to former India cricketer and BCCI selector Saba Karim questioning why Rohit Sharma was chosen in the Indian squad for the Australia tour.

Rohit, 38, will be reaching 40 when the ODI World Cup is held in 2027. Agarkar, other selectors, and team management are unsure whether he has the form and fitness to compete in the competition. Karim believes there was no point in selecting a player who is unlikely to be with the side until the next World Cup.

"Team mein aap kyon rakh rahe hain? Agar woh captain nahin hain, to phir ek baat saaf hai na ki aap unka future dekh nahin rahe ki wo 2027 ke World Cup mein rahenge, to phir aap aise khiladi ko team mein nahin rakhiye jo aapko lagta hai ki 2027 mein aapke hisaab se maujood nahin rahenge," Karim stated on his YouTube channel.

Rohit Sharma won the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 as India captain, while taking the team to the final of the World Cup and World Test Championship in 2023.

"Unhone team ko build kiya hain, unhone aapko Champions Trophy aur T20 jitaya hai (He built the team and won you the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup)," Karim further said.

Rohit Sharma will be in action when India takes on Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series in Perth on October 19.