The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently made a surprising announcement: Shubman Gill is the new ODI captain, effectively ending Rohit Sharma’s impressive leadership era. Rohit was India’s second most successful ODI captain, just behind MS Dhoni. This decision has ignited a fierce debate among cricket enthusiasts and former players alike.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif didn’t hold back his criticism of the BCCI’s move. In a widely circulated video, he passionately championed Rohit Sharma’s significant contributions and leadership qualities.
Rohit Sharma (PTI Photo)
“Rohit Sharma dedicated 16 years to India, yet we couldn’t even grant him one more as captain,” Kaif lamented. “As a leader, he has an incredible record, winning 15 out of 16 ICC events, with the sole loss being the 2023 final. He was instrumental in winning the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he was also named player of the match, and he was on track to win the 2024 World Cup too.”
Kaif continued, expressing bewilderment at the timing of the transition. “Rohit magnanimously stepped down from T20 captaincy after winning the World Cup to pave the way for new talent. He briefly stepped out of the spotlight, only for his ODI captaincy to be taken away. In India, there’s an unspoken rule to continue as long as you’re performing well, but Rohit didn’t get that opportunity. He mentored many players, only for us to remove him from the 2027 World Cup captaincy a year in advance. We couldn’t even give him that one year.”
He further questioned the urgency of the change: “The captain who brought us two ICC trophies in just eight months is now being replaced by Shubman Gill. While Gill is a promising young player who could become a great captain, why the rush? Why force a ‘flying start’? His time will undoubtedly come, but this was still Rohit’s moment.”
This swift leadership change has fueled widespread discussions about the ideal timing for transitions in Indian cricket. It follows Rohit’s impactful tenure, during which he led India to multiple significant victories in ICC competitions.
Previously, Rohit had announced his retirement from the T20 format after India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He also retired from Test cricket during IPL 2025, a decision made shortly before Virat Kohli’s similar announcement, following a challenging performance in the most recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Now, critical questions loom over Rohit’s future in ODI cricket. With the sudden loss of his captaincy, his role and participation in the upcoming 2027 World Cup remain highly uncertain.