In a truly unique and entertaining gesture, renowned mimicry artist Shaarang Shringarpure has paid a heartfelt tribute to Rohit Sharma’s ODI captaincy following the Mumbaikar’s recent removal from the 50-over format. The selectors announced a significant leadership change for the upcoming Australia limited-overs series, with dynamic opener Shubman Gill stepping up to lead the ODI side, while Suryakumar Yadav will captain in T20Is.
The viral social media video showcases Shringarpure’s exceptional talent as he brilliantly mimics the distinct voices and styles of cricket icons such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Ravi Shastri, and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Through these impersonations, he gives voice to what their reactions might have been regarding Rohit Sharma’s impactful stint as ODI captain.
This captaincy transition, which sees Gill taking the helm, is reportedly part of a strategic vision with the 2027 World Cup in mind. The decision was revealed on a Saturday, confirming that Rohit, aged 38, will maintain his place within the 15-member squad alongside fellow veteran Virat Kohli for the forthcoming tour of Australia.
During his tenure as ODI captain, Rohit Sharma achieved an impressive winning rate of 76%, securing victories in 42 out of 56 matches. Notably, he stands alongside MS Dhoni as one of only two Indian captains to have led the team to three ICC white-ball finals, a period which included triumphs in both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
Further changes in leadership include Shreyas Iyer’s appointment as vice-captain for the three-match ODI series against Australia. These matches are scheduled to take place between October 19 and 25 across Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne, and will be followed by five T20 International fixtures.
Chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, confirmed that the captaincy change had been discussed with Rohit Sharma. However, Agarkar remained non-committal when questioned about the long-term futures of both Rohit and Kohli concerning the 2027 World Cup plans.
“Yes, that is the format they are currently playing, and we have selected them,” Agarkar stated. “As far as the 2027 ODI World Cup is concerned, I don’t think we need to discuss it today, although a captaincy change naturally sparks such thoughts.”
When asked about Rohit’s reaction to the decision, Agarkar responded: “That was a private conversation between me and Rohit, or between the selectors and Rohit. But as I mentioned, it was indeed communicated to him.”
Agarkar also emphasized the logistical challenges of having distinct captains for all three formats. “Firstly, it’s practically impossible to have three different captains for three formats, purely in terms of strategic planning,” he explained.
The selection committee’s immediate focus is now squarely on the 2027 World Cup. Agarkar addressed the limited opportunities available in ODI cricket, which influenced their decision-making. “Obviously, at some stage, you have to start looking at where the next World Cup is. It’s also the format played least frequently now, so you don’t get that many games to actually give the next guy—or if there is going to be another guy—that much time to prepare himself or plan effectively.”
Agarkar elaborated on the challenges posed by ODI cricket’s current scheduling and the constrained preparation time. “We are still two years away, which might seem a long time, but we don’t quite know how many one-day games we might play. Closer to the World Cup, we might end up playing a little bit more than we currently do. But with our last ODI having been in March and the next scheduled for October 19th, it presents a bit of a challenge for one-day cricket at the moment. Of course, the focus has been on the T20 World Cup, but slowly we will begin planning for the upcoming ODI World Cup, ensuring the next captain has ample time to strategize with whatever games are available.”
Regarding the timing of the captaincy change, Agarkar explained the decision’s inevitability. “Even if he had not won the Champions Trophy, it would have been a difficult decision given his exceptional performance for India. But sometimes, you have to look ahead, assess the team’s standing, and ultimately act in the team’s best interest,” Agarkar concluded.
“Whether this decision came now or six months later, these are the types of calls we felt compelled to make. As I stated, one-day cricket is particularly challenging at this moment. If you’re going to make such a call, you want to do it reasonably early to allow the new captain enough time to build confidence and establish leadership in the format. That was the underlying idea.”
For another inspiring story from the world of sports, you can watch Lovlina Borgohain’s journey on ‘Game On, Episode 5’.