Shubman Gill's humble response as he replaces Rohit Sharma as India's ODI captain

Shubman Gill has been named India's new ODI captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma ahead of the three-match series in Australia. The 26-year-old, who already leads the Test side, called the appointment "the biggest honour" and expressed pride in carrying forward the legacy built by Rohit, who will now play under his leadership.

Gill's first reaction to the captaincy

Speaking on BCCI.tv, Gill acknowledged the weight of responsibility that comes with leading a side that has achieved recent success, including the Champions Trophy title in March.

"It's the biggest honour to be able to lead your country in the one-day format and to be able to lead a side that has done so well. It's immense pride for me, and I hope I'll be able to do great."

The selectors' decision marks a significant generational shift, with Ajit Agarkar's panel opting to hand long-term leadership to a younger captain while retaining the experience of Rohit and Virat Kohli in the playing XI. Both veterans, who have retired from Tests and T20Is, remain available for ODIs but are unlikely to feature in India's 2027 World Cup plans.

Why Ahmedabad holds special meaning

The captaincy announcement came just hours after Gill led India to a commanding innings-and-140-run victory over West Indies in the opening Test at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. For Gill, the venue carries personal significance beyond this recent triumph.

"This state is very special for me. From captaining my IPL team, then getting to know that I'll be Test captain, I was here and then my first Test at home, leading the side in Ahmedabad—this venue has always been very special for me."

Gill first captained at this ground when leading Gujarat Titans in the IPL, making his latest milestone here even more poignant.

The roadmap to 2027 World Cup

With approximately 20 ODIs remaining before the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Gill outlined a clear vision for the team's preparation and ultimate goal.

"Obviously the ultimate goal is the World Cup in South Africa, so everything that we play, and all the players that we play, they are going to try their best. Hopefully, we will be fully ready when we go to South Africa and win that World Cup."

This forward-looking approach aligns with the selectors' rationale for making the leadership change now rather than closer to the tournament. With limited ODI cricket on the calendar, early planning becomes crucial.

Context: Rohit's successful tenure

Under Rohit's captaincy, India compiled an impressive record across 56 ODI matches, winning 46 for a 75% win rate. His leadership highlights include:

• An unbeaten 10-match streak at the 2023 ODI World Cup (runners-up to Australia in the final)

• Champions Trophy 2025 victory in March with a five-match winning run

• Overall strong tactical acumen and team management

Despite this success, selectors cited the need to look ahead and build continuity across formats, which became difficult with three different captains.

Gill's captaincy credentials

While Gill's ODI captaincy experience is limited—just six List A matches with a 5-1 record—his Test leadership has been impressive. In his debut series as Test captain against England earlier this year, Gill led a transitional Indian side to a 2-2 draw and made history with the bat:

• 754 runs in five Tests vs England (highest-ever India-England series tally)

• Surpassed Graham Gooch's 752 in 1990

• Broke Sunil Gavaskar's 732-run record as captain vs West Indies (1978-79)

• First Asian batter to score 700+ runs in a SENA series

• Within reach of Don Bradman's legendary 810-run mark for a captain in a single series

His recent Test hundred in Ahmedabad, part of India's dominant win over West Indies, further demonstrated his form and composure under pressure.

The selection committee's thinking

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but emphasized team interests and future planning.

"Even if he had not won [Champions Trophy], it would have been a difficult decision. But sometimes you have to look forward, where you stand, interest of the team etc. Tough call."

When asked about Rohit's future, Agarkar remained diplomatic: "Obviously with captaincy change ahead of the [2027 World Cup], that's the thought, but we don't have to talk about that."

Squad composition for Australia

The 15-member ODI squad balances experience with emerging talent:

Leadership: Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer (vc)

Senior batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli

Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav

Pacers: Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna

Backup opener: Yashasvi Jaiswal

Notable omissions include Ravindra Jadeja (despite being current Test vice-captain), Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson.

What this means for Indian cricket

• One captain for two formats: Gill now leads in Tests and ODIs, with Suryakumar Yadav continuing as T20I captain. This reduces to two captains instead of three, simplifying leadership structures.

• Youth-experience blend: Rohit and Kohli provide stability and big-match temperament while Gill brings fresh energy and tactical innovation.

• Long-term planning: With 20 months until the 2027 World Cup, Gill has time to establish his leadership style and build team combinations.

• Performance pressure: Both Rohit and Kohli now play as specialist batters, with their positions dependent on form, fitness, and commitment to domestic cricket requirements.

The challenge ahead

Gill's first assignment as ODI captain comes in Australia—a tough away tour against strong opponents. The three-match series (October 19-25) will test his tactical nous, team management skills, and ability to balance the expectations of senior players with the development of younger talent.

His Test captaincy has shown maturity beyond his years, with smart bowling changes, aggressive field placements, and calm decision-making under pressure. Translating that to the faster-paced ODI format, where margins are tighter and tactical adjustments must happen quickly, will be his next evolution as a leader.

Final thoughts

Shubman Gill's elevation represents both continuity and change. He inherits a strong ODI setup from Rohit but must forge his own path while managing a transitional period. His humility in accepting the honour, combined with clear vision for the 2027 World Cup, suggests he understands the responsibility.

The cricketing world will watch closely as this new chapter unfolds, with one of India's brightest young talents now tasked with leading the nation toward another World Cup campaign.