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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering ace batter Shubman Gill as a potential successor to Rohit Sharma in One Day Internationals (ODIs), an Indian news outlet reported on Friday.
According to the report, Shubman Gill, who has also been appointed as Test captain, is expected to replace Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain as well.
Shubman Gill has cemented his spot in the ODIs and has a stellar average of 59 in the 50-over format.
The report cited a source backing Shubman Gill to take over the reins from Rohit Sharma when the time comes.
“He [Shubman Gill] averages 59 in ODI cricket and is already the vice-captain of the team. There is no way someone who has recently been appointed Test captain, found some success, and has age on his side should not take over leadership in ODI cricket, when the time comes,” the source said.
As the Indian team undergoes a transition, reports suggest that besides Shubman Gill, several names may replace Rohit Sharma.
The middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is among those whose stock as a captain in white-ball cricket has risen after a stellar display in two consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons.
Shreyas Iyer, who was pivotal in India’s Champions Trophy triumph, took two different franchises to the IPL final. His leadership skills have made him a strong contender for the captaincy role in India’s ODI cricket team.
However, according to the report, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had denied replacing Rohit Sharma as captain.
“That’s news to me. There have been no such discussions,” Saikia said.
It is pertinent to mention that the 38-year-old Rohit Sharma has already retired from T20I and Test cricket. With ODI remaining his strongest format, the right-handed batter is yet to provide clarity on his future.
However, recent reports suggest that BCCI is looking to incorporate some young players ahead of the 2027 ICC World Cup. This makes Sharma’s place in the team vulnerable, as he will be 40 by the time the marquee event in South Africa arrives.
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