Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has backed the decision to hand India’s ODI captaincy to Shubman Gill, calling it a "fair move". He added that Rohit
Sharma’s removal as ODI captain was likely made in consultation with the Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup-winning skipper himself.
In his debut series as Test captain, Gill led India to a 2-2 draw against England. Now, the 26-year-old will take charge of the ODI side, with his first assignment being the three-match series against Australia. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as his deputy.
"I think it has been done in consultation with Rohit, from outside... I don't know what's inside. Somewhere down the line, I feel that it's a fair call. Rohit can keep playing, and in the meantime, you keep grooming a young captain. So, I really don't see a problem in that,” said Ganguly as quoted by NDTV Sports.
India will play three ODIs in Australia starting October 19, followed by a five-match T20I series beginning on October 29. The decision by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee also appears to be made with the future in mind, looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, when Rohit will be over 40 and Virat Kohli will be 39.
"I am sure Rohit must have been spoken to. So, I don't know whether it is 'sacking' or anything. I am sure it is a mutual discussion because Rohit has been an outstanding leader. In the last two years, he has won the T20 World Cup. He has won the Champions Trophy. So, performance is not the issue with Rohit Sharma. And I think what's gone in the selectors' mind is, as he asked, in two years' time he will be 40, when the World Cup happens in South Africa. He doesn't play T20 cricket. So, he will not be a part of the World Cup in 2026 in India. But when they go to 2027 in South Africa, he will be 40 years old. And that's a big number in sport,” said Ganguly.
“And he has played for so long. So, I don't think anybody is sure whether Rohit will actually play when he is 40. So, I don't think it's the worst decision. It happens to everyone. There will not be any exception even in the future—10 years down the line when Shubman Gill gets close to 40 and scores 12,000-13,000 runs. He will also have to face this situation because, as you know, in sport, whether it's a (Roger) Federer, whether it's a (Pete) Sampras, whether it's a (Rafael) Nadal, whether it's a (Diego) Maradona, they all have to finish someday,” he added.
The CAB President stated that age and performance would ultimately determine their future, but they would need to prove themselves in domestic cricket.
"Yes, 40 is a lot of age. It depends on him—how fit he stays, how much cricket he plays, and how many runs he scores. It is not easy to play just one format. Yes, he would play IPL, but that is only two months a year. As I said, it depends on how fit they (Rohit and Virat) remain and how much performance they keep up. Whatever opportunity they get, they have to play domestic cricket,” said Ganguly.
“Because cricket is a sport where you have to keep playing—otherwise, you lose the touch and the form and the contact. It is everything in life. You have to keep doing it. They have to play domestic cricket. That's what it is. If they keep at it and perform, they will play for India," he added.
Across five Tests in England, Gill scored 754 runs, including four centuries, the most by any batter in a Test series between India and England. He surpassed Graham Gooch’s 752 runs from 1990 and broke Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 732 runs as captain against the West Indies in 1978-79.
"It's too early. For the tour of England, I thought he was brilliant. I have seen the five-Test series. The way he has played and the way he has captained the team is extraordinary. That is why he has been made the captain of the ODI team for the future. Lot of potential, both as a player and captain," Ganguly concluded.
