Shockwaves rippled through the Indian cricketing landscape on October 4, 2025, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a decision that few saw coming—Rohit Sharma, the seasoned stalwart and architect of India’s recent white-ball successes, has been officially removed as the ODI captain. Rising star Shubman Gill steps into the captain’s shoes, set to lead India in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia starting October 19. The announcement, delivered by BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, marks the end of an era and the dawn of a new leadership chapter for the Men in Blue.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Since taking over the reins, he’s guided India to 42 wins in 56 ODIs, suffering just 12 losses—a sparkling win percentage of 76%. Under his stewardship, India clinched the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, rebounding from the heartbreak of a narrow defeat to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final at home. Yet, despite these triumphs and an unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, the selectors have opted for a generational shift, handing Gill the captaincy baton.
Harbhajan Singh, former India spinner and a keen observer of the game, was among the first to react to the news. Expressing both surprise and a tinge of disappointment, Harbhajan said, “First of all, congratulations to Shubman Gill. Obviously, he has been leading the team well in Test cricket, and now he’s been given another opportunity in ODIs as well. It's going to be a new challenge for him. Rohit has been replaced, but he will always be someone who holds a very good record in white-ball cricket. To be honest, this news is a little bit shocking to me. If at all, he was going to Australia, he should have been the captain.”
Harbhajan’s sentiment echoed throughout the cricketing fraternity, with many feeling that Rohit deserved one last hurrah as captain Down Under. “He won the Champions Trophy, and other tournaments too (T20 World Cup),” he added, highlighting Rohit’s legacy as a leader. “He's been one of the pillars of Indian cricket, so he should have been given one last captaincy run in Australia. I know the 2027 World Cup is still very far away. Gill could have waited a little and taken over in another 6-8 months. So yeah, I’m happy for Shubman but disappointed for Rohit to be removed.”
Shubman Gill’s promotion is not entirely out of the blue. The 26-year-old has already been steering India’s Test side with a steady hand, overseeing a hard-fought series draw in England and a resounding win over the West Indies in Ahmedabad. His ascension to the ODI captaincy signals a clear intent from the selectors to build a team for the future, possibly with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup. Still, the decision to move on from Rohit—especially given his recent form and leadership—has left many scratching their heads.
Harbhajan, while excited for Gill’s new challenge, voiced what many fans are feeling: “It’s a bit of a shock for me to see Rohit not being the captain. If you’re selecting Rohit Sharma, select him as captain, because he just recently won you the ICC Champions Trophy. Rohit has been one of the pillars of Indian cricket when it comes to white-ball formats.”
Rohit, who hasn’t played for India since March 2025 or any competitive cricket since May, now returns to the squad as a batter. Yet, his impact on Indian cricket cannot be overstated. “If you look at Rohit's ODI record, he is averaging almost close to 50. That shows how consistent he has been and what he brings to the table as an opener. There is no doubt about his performances and his approach when it comes to playing for India. He's been a phenomenal player, and that will not change. He will continue to bat the way he always has and continue to be a leader in the team, irrespective of whether he is captain or not,” Harbhajan noted.
It’s not just Harbhajan who’s been vocal. Dinesh Karthik, former Indian wicketkeeper and now a commentator, offered a heartfelt tribute to Rohit’s leadership. “Rohit Sharma! Thank you so much. You were a phenomenal captain. Tactically astute, but most importantly, very friendly, and got along with everyone and made them feel so comfortable. But for me, the legacy that you have left as a captain is in those big moments, those big matches, you taught this current team what it takes to win. At times, we used to take the backward step but you said 'No, we need to press forward'. Put more pressure on the opponent, take more risks. And you didn't leave it to anyone else. You started it with the bat when in the big matches, you said 'I’m going to go hard'. That required skill. And you got it done consistently,” he wrote.
While the focus has been on Rohit and Gill, another player’s rise has quietly added a new dimension to the team’s leadership group. Shreyas Iyer, recognized for his impact as a player and captain in domestic cricket and the IPL, has been named vice-captain for the Australia ODIs. Harbhajan didn’t hold back his praise: “I am very happy for Shreyas Iyer. He is one of those guys who hardly gets the credit he deserves. We talk about that World Cup in India; he scored back-to-back centuries, and with what pace! He's an impact player; when he gets going, he makes things easy for the dressing room and the other batters. I am very happy that he's back in the scheme of things, not just as a player but with a bigger responsibility as vice-captain.”
Iyer’s credentials are impressive: 2,845 runs in 70 matches at an average of 48.22, five centuries, and 22 fifties. His leadership has seen success at multiple levels, including winning the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders and leading Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Most recently, he guided Punjab Kings to their first IPL finals in a decade, championing an aggressive, positive brand of cricket.
As the new leadership group prepares for the Australian challenge, the ODI squad boasts a blend of experience and youth: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The T20I squad, meanwhile, will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with Gill as vice-captain.
With a three-match ODI series beginning October 19 and a five-match T20I series to follow from October 29, all eyes are on how the new captaincy team will fare. Will Gill’s fresh approach and Iyer’s tactical nous help India maintain their white-ball dominance? Can Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue to drive the team’s batting engine? Fans and pundits alike are waiting with bated breath.
One thing is certain: Indian cricket is entering a bold new phase, but the echoes of Rohit Sharma’s leadership and the excitement surrounding Shubman Gill’s promotion will linger long after the first ball is bowled in Australia.