Shubman Gill has replaced Rohit as ODI captain (Source: Crex.com)
India are starting a new era in ODI cricket as they have replaced Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill as their new captain. It is a bold call after India's victorious 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, and with the 2027 World Cup in focus, the Men in Blue would be looking to continue their good run under the new captain.
However, things would not be easy for a youngster like Shubman Gill. He has done well as Test captain in his brief stint, which would give him confidence, but the challenges would be a bit different in ODI cricket, and he would have to find a way to tackle them. So, let's now see a few challenges that Shubman Gill will face as ODI captain after replacing Rohit Sharma.
Make seniors comfortable to enjoy their backing
Shubman Gill is just 26 years old and has played only 55 ODIs in his career. Now, he has been assigned the task to lead modern-day greats like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. There are other seniors in the side, too, who have been playing for India before him, and it is important that the young leader makes everyone comfortable and secure.
Gill would have to keep his communication clear with the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who, according to the chief selector, are not certain to play the World Cup 2027. It is important to define their role and clear out the expectations that the new leadership group has from the legendary duo. It would help him gain the confidence of seniors and bring out the best from them. Therefore, forming a good, healthy equation as captain with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would be one of the initial challenges for Shubman Gill.
Finding the right people for the expected transition in the ODI setup
Every captain has their way of running the team, and with Shubman Gill at the helm now, there is bound to be some changes in the way India approach the ODI format. Also, with uncertainty over the position of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, there are chances that they might retire or India decide to move ahead if the star duo does not perform. Thus, multiple spots might open up in the batting order, and Shubman Gill would have to find the right players for those positions who can complement each other and deliver as a unit.
Also, Ravindra Jadeja has been dropped from the squad for the Australia ODIs. It is an indication that India are moving away from him, and so if the experienced trio is not part of the ODI setup, the new players might take some time to find their groove in the 50-over format. Therefore, it would be the responsibility of the captain, along with team management, to handle this transition properly and keep the rich legacy of the previous regime intact.
Also, there are truckloads of options for almost every position in India, thus finding the right people and balance would be key.
Avoid dependency on Bumrah, create new pace bowling core
In the recently held Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy before that, India were heavily dependent on their spinners in the UAE, and it worked wonders. However, now that India are going to Australia, they would have to rely more on pacers, and the same goes for the World Cup 2027, which will be played in South Africa.
Thus, India would have to find a reliable pace bowling core with Mohammed Shami out of favour and growing concerns over the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj is another bowler who is a bit experienced, but there are concerns over his effectiveness with the old ball, which led to his exclusion from the Champions Trophy.
The other fast bowlers selected for the Australian tour - Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana have played a total of 31 ODI matches, which shows the lack of experience in the pace-bowling group. Thus, Shubman Gill would have to create his new core of fast bowlers who can deliver for him in ODI cricket and take responsibility even if Jasprit Bumrah is not available due to fitness issues.
.jpg?type=mq "Rohit vs Kohli in Australia")
.jpg?type=mq "How many ODIs India will play?")
