The end of an era in Indian cricket has arrived, and what a journey it’s been. Rohit Sharma, one of the most prolific and successful leaders in the history of one-day internationals, has officially stepped down as India’s ODI captain, passing the baton to the young and talented Shubman Gill. The recently concluded three-match ODI series against Australia not only marked a new chapter for Indian cricket, but also offered a fascinating blend of nostalgia, transition, and hope for the future.
Let’s set the scene: Australia clinched the series 2-1, but the numbers only tell part of the story. India’s final match in Sydney saw a resurgent Rohit Sharma play a commanding, unbeaten 121, guiding his team to a nine-wicket victory while sharing an unbroken 168-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who contributed a fluent 74 not out. The packed Sydney Cricket Ground erupted as the two veterans reminded everyone of their class, but the series had already slipped out of India’s grasp after two tough losses in Perth and Adelaide.
For Rohit, this series was more than just another set of matches. It was his swan song as captain—a role in which he left an indelible mark. Under his leadership, India boasted a remarkable 75% win rate, winning 42 out of 56 ODIs. That’s not just good; it’s historic. Among those who have captained at least 50 ODIs, only the legendary Clive Lloyd of the West Indies has a higher win percentage. Rohit’s era was decorated with silverware too: Asia Cup victories in 2018 and 2023, and the crowning glory of the Champions Trophy in 2025. In multi-nation events, his win rate soared to a staggering 88.8%, the best among all captains who’ve led in at least 20 such matches.
But what makes Rohit’s tenure even more remarkable is the way he evolved as a player. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif recently observed, "I think it is about captaincy. Now he is playing solely as a batter. He will be cautious. He is not a captain or a leader. He is not pressured by setting the example of leading from the front by hitting a six on the first ball. He has played a lot of balls." Kaif’s words ring true when you look at Rohit’s approach in this series: 236 balls faced, 202 runs scored, and an unbeaten 121 to finish. No longer did he feel the need to blaze away from the start; instead, he anchored the innings, batted deep, and allowed his experience to shine through.
Rohit himself acknowledged this subtle shift in mindset after the third ODI. “I enjoy playing in Australia in general. Today was the perfect day again to get a big one and get the team through. The bowlers did a fantastic job of restricting them first up. Up front with the two new balls, it was a bit challenging. I wanted to bat as deep as possible and see how we can take the game till the end. Sometimes you think about so many things, but today it just perfectly fit into my plans,” he told the BCCI in a post-match video. Reflecting on his partnership with Kohli, he added, “Yeah, fantastic partnership. After a long time, I think we've not had a 100-run partnership for a long time. It was good for the team, looking at how we were placed. There was a lot of chatter between us. We understand each other really well. It's just about taking the game and understanding what is required at that point, and it definitely comes with experience.”
Yet, amid the celebration of individual brilliance, the series also exposed the challenges facing the new-look Indian side. Shubman Gill, handed the captaincy by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel, struggled to find form at the top of the order. In his maiden series as ODI skipper, Gill managed just 43 runs across three matches—scores of 10, 9, and 24. His early dismissals put pressure on the middle order, and India’s run chases lacked the stability that Rohit once provided. It was a sharp contrast to Gill’s recent exploits in Test cricket, where he led India to a series win over England and topped the run charts with 754 runs. The hope is that Gill, still early in his ODI captaincy journey, will rediscover his rhythm as the team builds towards the 2027 World Cup cycle.
Australia, meanwhile, showed their mettle. They sealed the series in Adelaide with a two-wicket win, chasing down India’s 264-9 with 22 balls to spare. Matthew Short’s 74 and Cooper Connolly’s unbeaten 61 were the highlights, with the latter steering the chase home after a late wobble. On the bowling front, Mitchell Starc’s 2-62 and Josh Hazlewood’s miserly 10 overs for 29 runs underlined Australia’s depth and discipline. Even as Travis Head and Alex Carey had quieter outings, the Australians found new heroes to step up when it mattered.
The series also saw a rare blip for Virat Kohli, who was dismissed for ducks in consecutive ODI innings for the first time in his career, both times lbw to Xavier Bartlett. Kohli’s return to international cricket after his retirement from Tests and T20s was highly anticipated, but the runs didn’t flow as expected this time around. Still, his unbeaten 74 in the third ODI, alongside Rohit, was a reminder of his enduring quality and the value of experience in high-pressure chases.
For India, there were bright spots beyond the veterans. Rohit made it a point to praise young pacer Harshit Rana, who impressed in both Adelaide and Sydney. “Unfortunately, we couldn't win the series, but I think it's still a very relatively young team. A lot of the guys haven't been here, playing white-ball cricket. So, we can take a lot of positives also from here, especially Harshit Rana, who's been playing white-ball cricket for the first time in Australia. The way he bowled in both the games, Perth obviously was a shortened game, but looking at how he bowled in Adelaide and also here, it was a fantastic effort from him,” Rohit said.
As the dust settles, the numbers speak volumes about Rohit’s legacy. His ODI captaincy record—75% win rate, three major trophies, and a rare double of averaging over 50 with a strike rate above 100—cements his place among the all-time greats. Only AB de Villiers matches that statistical feat among captains with at least 50 innings. Rohit’s impact wasn’t just in the results, but in the way he inspired a generation of cricketers to believe, to fight, and to play with flair.
The road ahead for India will be challenging, with new leaders, young faces, and high expectations. But if the final match in Sydney showed anything, it’s that this team—anchored by legends and fueled by fresh talent—still has plenty of firepower. The Shubman Gill era is just beginning, and the cricketing world will be watching closely as India charts its next course.
For now, though, the spotlight rightfully belongs to Rohit Sharma, the most successful ODI captain in India’s history, whose legacy will shape the team’s ambitions for years to come.
