In a pivotal decision marking a new chapter for Indian cricket, the national selectors announced on Saturday that young opener Shubman Gill will take over the ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma, with a keen eye on the 2027 World Cup. This eagerly awaited move highlights the selectors’ long-term vision to cultivate Gill as India’s leader across all formats.
Despite the leadership change, seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both modern-day stalwarts, will remain integral members of the 15-player squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia. Their experience will be crucial during this transition period. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as Gill’s vice-captain for the series, scheduled to take place between October 19 and 25 across Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne, followed by a five-match T20I series.
Following the announcement, the BCCI released a special video titled ‘Shubman Gill, presenting Team India’s new ODI captain.’ The video chronicles Gill’s journey, including his elevation to Test captaincy earlier this year.
Reflecting on his appointment as Test captain on May 24, 2025, the stylish right-hander shared his profound feelings: ‘That is definitely a bit overwhelming. As a young kid, when anyone starts playing cricket, they want to play for India — and not just play for India but to play Test cricket for a very long time. To be able to get this opportunity is a great honour. Like you said, it’s a big responsibility.’
Fast forward to October 4, 2025, as Gill was named India’s ODI captain, he spoke of his deep emotional connection to Ahmedabad, a city that has witnessed several of his career-defining moments. ‘Difficult to put it in words, this state is very special for me — from captaining my IPL team, to being named Test captain, and leading my first Test at home — all of it happened here. This venue has always been very special for me,’ Gill expressed.
Reacting to his latest appointment, Gill emphasized that leading India in One-Day Internationals is ‘the biggest honour’ of his career. ‘It’s the biggest honour to be able to lead your country in one-day cricket, and to lead a side that has done so well. It’s immense pride for me and I hope I’ll be able to do great,’ he stated.
Looking forward to India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Gill outlined his comprehensive long-term vision: ‘I think we have about 20 ODIs before we play the World Cup. The ultimate goal is the World Cup in South Africa. Everything we play now — every player we try — is to ensure we’re fully ready to win that World Cup.’
With a blend of youthful talent, consistent performance, and burgeoning leadership skills, Shubman Gill’s appointment signals an exciting new direction for India’s white-ball cricket future.
India’s ODI squad for Australia tour
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)
- Axar Patel
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Siraj
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna
- Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal