The BCCI removed the successful Rohit Sharma from the Team India ODI captaincy, citing future requirements, and entrusted the responsibility to the young batter Shubman Gill. Rohit, who served as captain from 2017 until October 4, 2025, led the Indian team to 42 victories out of 56 ODIs, achieving a winning percentage of 76%. Under his captaincy, India reached the final of the 2023 World Cup and won the Champions Trophy.
There is an ongoing discussion regarding whether Rohit, known as the ‘Hitman’, will now display his previous aggressive style of play as a non-captain. With the burden of captaincy removed, Rohit has the opportunity to perform more freely in batting, similar to Virat Kohli. Analysts believe that because two of his three ODI double centuries were achieved before he became captain, Rohit is likely to become even more dangerous as a non-captain.
However, maintaining form and fitness is crucial if he is to continue in the squad until the 2027 World Cup, by which time Rohit will be 40 years old. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar commented that the removal of captaincy is the beginning of bad news yet to come. Irfan Pathan opined that securing match practice will become a big challenge if Rohit intends to play in the 2027 World Cup.
