Shubman Gill will take over ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma with long-term plans for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, as the new captain must be handed some time to reshape the ODI team based on his strategies.
The internet has been taken over by India’s draw against England in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. This is the first time a series draw has been celebrated with this intensity by cricket fans, due to the intense drama and nail-biting finishes to the matches in the series.
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir looked teary-eyed at the end of the Oval Test, while skipper Shubman Gill looked overjoyed by the triumph of the Indian team after falling behind earlier in the series and then concluding it with a 2-2 scoreline.
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Shubman Gill lined up as Rohit Sharma’s successor in ODIs after Test takeover
Captain Shubman Gill seemed to have struck a remarkable coordination with the current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, which was evident in the England series. While some of their strategies paid off, some did not over a few occasions.
With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli retiring from Tests and T20Is, it will be difficult to retain their place in international cricket playing just 1 format. Hence, selectors would want to replace Rohit Sharma so that the transition is smooth.
There could be a possible temptation to revisit the ODI captaincy role, as Gill has already been designated the vice-captain of the ODI team, which means that he would be the stand-in skipper in Rohit Sharma’s absence.
However, with India playing no ODI games ever since the 2025 Champions Trophy, the BCCI has not felt the need to rekindle thoughts over India’s ODI captaincy. But with Rohit Sharma not being a certainty for the 2027 ODI World Cup, there have been rumours that the BCCI is considering bringing in a new skipper on board.
This move, if it happens, seems ideal, as any new captain would need some time to shape the team according to his choices and strategies before going into any big tournament.
Gautam Gambhir’s red-ball stay is prolonged with Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy draw
Gautam Gambhir, the Indian coach, might be a charismatic personality worth learning a lot from, but his dismaying Test series performances would have certainly taken a toll on his coaching career and would have shortened his stay as the head coach of the Indian side.
Gambhir has had imminent success in the T20 as well as the ODI format, as India also won an ICC title under him, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. However, his Test stats read a home series clean sweep against New Zealand, a 3-1 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and a 2-1 trail in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy until the decisive Test at The Oval.
After the draw in the series, the Indian team’s stunning performances being acknowledged despite just a draw in the series, which India could have easily won had they not suffered a disastrous collapse at Lord’s, has been a sigh of relief for coach Gambhir.
This has assured Gambhir’s stay with the Indian red-ball side for a prolonged period, as he has also made a huge impact with his unique game plans.
Shubman Gill also lined up for T20 captaincy ahead of the Asia Cup 2025
Suryakumar Yadav has been sidelined from a possible return for the Asia Cup 2025 as he is still on the route to recovery after a sports hernia surgery that kept him out of the field for the last 2 months.
Indian selectors have hence been reported as considering replacement options for the T20 captaincy ahead of the continental championship. As per reports, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has sided with Shubman Gill, while Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya is also a strong candidate.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be seen playing for India next in the Australia ODI series. It will be interesting to see how their form pans out.
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