Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill has been named the new ODI captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, in a major shake-up ahead of India’s upcoming Australia tour while Shreyas Iyer will serve as his deputy for the three-match series starting October 19. The Indian squad also features stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, signaling a transitional approach where experience remains alongside fresh leadership. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on a special episode of Cricket Predicta, former cricketer and selector Madan Lal praised the move: “This is an excellent decision by the selectors. Making Gill captain is a forward-looking move. He will be prepared for the World Cup. Now it will be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma performs under Gill’s leadership.”

Lal added, “Shubman Gill is an excellent leader and has proven himself in Test cricket. He came very close to breaking Don Bradman’s record during the England Test series. He is the future, and the selectors have made that clear. We must give him time to mature as a captain, especially as we aim for ODI glory in 2027. This series will provide him with the necessary exposure.”Former England cricketer David Gower offered a candid perspective on India’s long-term World Cup strategy, stating, “I do not see Virat and Rohit playing in the 2027 World Cup… Pant, yes, despite being injury-prone. The team will rely on young leaders like Gill to shape the future. This is a perfect opportunity for him to step up and guide India to success.”The move underscores India’s strategic shift in leadership, with Rohit stepping away from captaincy roles. While the futures of Rohit and Kohli in the ODI setup remain merit-based, the focus is clearly on building a strong leadership core for the 2027 World Cup.

India’s ODI squad for Australia tour

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), and Yashasvi Jaiswal.