NEW DELHI: Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has stepped forward to clarify the recent decision to relieve Rohit Sharma of his ODI captaincy. Ganguly firmly stated that this move should not be perceived as a ‘sacking’ but rather a ‘natural progression’ in a player’s career. He drew striking parallels to his own past experiences and those of fellow cricket icon Rahul Dravid, both of whom navigated similar transitions as they neared the latter stages of their illustrious playing careers.
“I’m sure Rohit must have been spoken to. I’m not sure if it’s a sacking; I’m sure it’s a mutual discussion,” Ganguly remarked. “Rohit has been an outstanding leader, having steered the team to victory in the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy. Performance is clearly not the issue with Rohit Sharma. However, by 2027, Rohit will be 40. That’s a significant age in professional sports. This kind of transition happened to me, it happened to Dravid… it’s an inevitable part of every player’s journey. Even Shubman Gill will eventually face the same at 40.”
Ganguly also expressed strong support for the selection committee’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as India’s new ODI captain. He highlighted Gill’s exceptional performance during India’s five-Test series in England this summer, where the young skipper impressively accumulated 754 runs, including four centuries. This remarkable feat even surpassed historic records previously held by cricketing legends like Graham Gooch and Sunil Gavaskar.
A video embedded in the original article discussed Rohit Sharma’s removal as India’s ODI captain, signaling the end of a glorious era.
“Not a bad decision to promote Gill. He’s consistently demonstrated immense talent, especially during the England series. I believe it’s a fair call – Rohit can continue playing a vital role while the team grooms a young captain for the future,” Ganguly explained. “It might seem early, but the way he has performed and led the team so far is truly extraordinary. He possesses tremendous potential, both as a player and as a future captain.”
Regarding Rohit Sharma’s ongoing career, Ganguly emphasized the critical role of domestic cricket in maintaining a player’s form and fitness. He reiterated that age would undeniably become a factor in future team selections. “Yes, 40 is indeed a significant age. His future involvement will depend on his sustained fitness levels, the amount of cricket he continues to play, and, crucially, his ability to keep scoring runs. Whatever opportunities players get, they must actively participate in domestic cricket. That’s the essence of cricket; you have to keep playing consistently to maintain your sharpness and competitive edge,” he stated.
Ganguly concluded by underscoring that transitions are an inherent and unavoidable aspect of professional sports, and no player, regardless of their stature, is immune to them. “It happens to everyone, from legends like Federer and Nadal to Maradona; everyone eventually has to conclude their playing career someday. Rohit’s significant contributions will always be cherished and remembered, and now, the focus shifts to Shubman Gill leading the side forward into a new chapter.”
India is set to commence their ODI campaign under Gill’s captaincy with a three-match series against Australia, scheduled to begin on October 19. This will be followed by a five-match T20I series starting from October 29.