Ajit Agarkar Reveals Reasons Behind Rohit Sharma’s ODI Captaincy Change

The beginning of a new chapter in Indian cricket is marked by Shubman Gill taking over as the ODI captain from Rohit Sharma for the upcoming three-match series in Australia. Recently, rumors circulated regarding the national selection committee’s decision about Rohit’s future as the ODI captain, especially after he stepped down from Tests. Ajit Agarkar, head of the national selection panel, supported the choice to transition from the seasoned captain, emphasizing the impracticality of having separate captains for each format.

Agarkar reassured that Rohit was informed of the decision. However, he refrained from speculating about the futures of him and Virat Kohli till the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, stating, “It’s too early to discuss the 2027 World Cup now.”

At 26, Gill was appointed as India’s Test captain in May and led the team to a 2-2 draw in the five-Test series against England. Prior to his current leadership role, his experience in leading the national team was limited to a temporary assignment during the 2024 Zimbabwe tour for five T20Is, where senior players were rested.

Agarkar explained that Gill’s appointment as the ODI captain was part of a strategy for future planning. “You need to start considering the next World Cup, given that ODIs now occur less frequently,” he mentioned. With the tournament still two years away, the team might face a varied number of ODI matches in preparation. “The break between games poses challenges for One-Day cricket strategy,” Agarkar noted. Despite the upcoming T20 World Cup, preparations for the ODI World Cup will also commence gradually.

Agarkar emphasized giving the new captain enough time to formulate plans for the World Cup, pointing out the challenges of coordinating with three different captains. Although Gill will have minimal downtime due to his involvement in all three cricket formats, Agarkar expressed confidence in the young cricketer’s resilience and potential, evident from his performance under pressure in England.

There is a packed schedule for the team, as noted by Agarkar, but with strategic management, the team aims to ensure Gill’s readiness for the World Cup in 24 months. In his 55 ODI appearances, Gill has amassed 2775 runs, including eight centuries, with expectations for continued standout performances.

The selected 15-man ODI squad features KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Dhruv Jurel among the batsmen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel as all-rounders. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested, while Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna lead the bowling attack, along with Harshit Rana and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

From the Champions Trophy lineup, Ravindra Jadeja is absent, and both Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant are recovering from injuries. Pandya, who sustained an injury during the Asia Cup, will miss both the ODI and T20I series.

The ODI matches are scheduled for October 19 in Perth, October 23 in Adelaide, and October 25 in Sydney, followed by a five-match T20I series from October 29 to November 8.

Published on October 4, 2025.