The decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain has not just surprised fans but also sent a strong message to two of India’s biggest icons- Rohit and Virat Kohli.
Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain and legendary batter, didn’t mince his words while reacting to this move.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
He believes the selectors have already started preparing for a future without the two modern greats, and the pair should be ready for “more bad news” in the near future.
Why did Sunil Gavaskar support the decision to make Shubman Gill captain?
Gavaskar explained that the decision made perfect sense when viewed from a long-term perspective. According to him, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might not fit into India’s 2027 World Cup plans.
Rohit will be 40 and Kohli close to 39 by then, making it increasingly hard to stay match-ready, especially with their limited international commitments.
Rohit has already retired from T20Is and Tests, which means ODIs are now his only active format. But the problem is that India doesn’t play too many ODIs anymore.
Most upcoming series are dominated by Tests and T20s, leaving Rohit with just 5–7 ODIs per year. Gavaskar said that such little match practice won’t be enough to stay sharp for a major tournament like the World Cup.
MORE: Is Gill being overburdened with responsibilities?
"We don't know whether Rohit Sharma will be ready for the 2027 World Cup. He only plays ODIs now, and if we see the international calendar, the Indian team isn't playing too many ODIs. Bilateral tours mostly include Tests and T20Is. If he only plays 5-7 ODIs in a year, he won't get that kind of practice, which you need for a big tournament like a World Cup. If his place in the team isn't certain, the decision to prepare Shubman Gill was taken," Gavaskar told Sports Tak.
He also pointed out that the selection committee’s idea was to groom a younger leader like Gill early, instead of waiting for a last-minute change.
Gavaskar mentioned that Rohit himself would probably agree with this plan since it’s aimed at preparing India for the long run rather than short-term results.
"Even he (Rohit Sharma) agrees with this decision because if you need to think two years ahead, then a young captain needs to be prepared. And this is the thought process the selection committee went ahead with," added Gavaskar.
This shift doesn’t question Rohit or Kohli’s legacy. Both have achieved almost everything in international cricket. But as India’s focus turns toward the future, their international roles seem to be shrinking fast.
RELATED LINKS:
- Who will win the Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 odds, winners list, favourites to win, schedule and results
- ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Schedule, fixtures, match times, latest results and points table
- Women's World Cup 2025 semi-final qualification scenarios: Rules, chances and points required for progressing from group stage
- How to bet online on cricket in India and the most trusted site
- All the latest cricket news
- All betting tips and predictions