New Delhi, October 4, 2025: Veteran opener Rohit Sharma has been removed as India’s ODI captain ahead of next month’s three-match series in Australia, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) naming Shubman Gill as his replacement.
The 15-member squad, announced on Saturday, includes both Sharma and Virat Kohli, though the 38-year-old will not be leading the Men in Blue. Gill, 26, will take charge with Shreyas Iyer serving as his deputy.
The decision by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, in consultation with head coach Gautam Gambhir, comes just months after Sharma guided India to the ICC Champions Trophy title — a victory that ultimately proved insufficient to secure his position.
Gill, who had earlier succeeded Sharma as Test captain following his retirement from the format, was widely regarded as the natural heir in ODIs. The management is looking long-term, with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
“Practically, it’s impossible to have three different captains for three formats,” Agarkar told reporters in Ahmedabad. “At some stage you’ve got to start looking at the next World Cup. ODI is also the least-played format now, so there aren’t many games to give a new captain enough time to prepare.”
Agarkar confirmed Sharma had been informed of the decision but declined to comment on whether Sharma or Kohli — both now retired from T20Is and Tests — would play in the 2027 World Cup. “That’s the format they are currently available for. We don’t need to talk beyond that today,” he said.
Neither Sharma nor Kohli has featured for India since the Champions Trophy triumph in March.
India, fresh off a crushing innings-and-140-run victory over West Indies in Ahmedabad, now face a busy calendar. Following the ongoing two-Test series, they will travel to Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is starting October 19, before returning home to host South Africa in another full series.
