The change in India’s ODI leadership has drawn plenty of reactions and Abhishek Nayar has now added his voice to it.
The former India assistant coach said he only hopes that proper communication took place with Rohit Sharma before the captaincy switch.
Rohit, who led India to the Champions Trophy title earlier this year, handed over the reins to Shubman Gill as part of India’s transition plan ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
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Did the selectors communicate properly with Rohit Sharma?
Speaking on Star Sports, Nayar said that his only concern was about how the message was delivered to Rohit. He mentioned that as long as Rohit was part of the conversation and agreed with the move, the decision made sense.
"For me, there’s only one thing. Look, as long as that discussion happened with him, as long as he was on the same page, if he also said, 'Yes, we have to look forward, we want to give Shubman Gill a chance, and I’ll be there in that dressing room with you to help him through it,' then I am all for it." said Nayar.
He added that it’s good to see Rohit still being trusted to guide the next generation during the transition phase.
"I think it’s a great decision because you’ve kept the captain (Rohit) in the loop. You’ve given him that responsibility — 'help us take this team forward like you did till now.' I feel he deserves that much," added Nayar.
Nayar highlighted Rohit’s preparation for the 2027 World Cup
Nayar also mentioned that Rohit had been working extremely hard with the 2027 World Cup in mind. The veteran opener, who turns 38 next year, was focused on one last big push to win an ODI World Cup before bowing out.
"Rohit Sharma has been putting in the hard work with his preparation clearly focused on winning the 2027 World Cup for India, a title he missed out on in 2023. I just hope the communication wen well," said Nayar.
READ: Explained: Why Gill replaced Rohit as India's ODI captain
He stressed that big decisions like these need to be handled with care and time, not just a quick phone call.
"Here’s just one thing: if you’re going to do it, then do it right. If you’re going to have this communication, then — I always believe — communication takes time. It’s not a phone call. You sit together and talk it through," he added.
Nayar also backed the selectors’ call to promote Shubman Gill. He said that Gill was always destined to become India’s captain one day.
"Shubman Gill, we all knew someday he was going to be captain, and he should be, because he’s that kind of player," Nayar concluded.
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