Shamik Chakrabarty in Ahmedabad
Who will lead India in the three-match ODI series in Australia? As things stand, it might not be an open-and-shut case, and there appears to be a couple of possibilities. The team selection is likely on Saturday.
Possibility 1: Rohit Sharma to stay as captain. The incumbent ODI skipper has huge credit in the bank. In March this year, he led India to the Champions Trophy triumph, playing a match-winning innings in the final against New Zealand. Then again, the selectors are thinking about the next World Cup and Rohit would be 40 years old in 2027.
If the transition for the next World Cup cycle starts now, then the selectors, in conjunction with head coach Gautam Gambhir might start thinking about the future. A discussion between Rohit and the selection committee might happen before the selection meeting as regards the player’s future plans. Rohit won’t be forced out of captaincy. Will he relinquish the post and continue as a player? We have to wait and see.
Possibility 2: Shubman Gill is already the ODI vice-captain. He leads India in Tests and he is Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy in T20Is. Going ahead, he is likely to be India’s all-format captain. If in any case, the selectors decide to move on from Rohit, Gill could be their preferred choice. As things stand, he is the favourite to take over.
India will play three ODIs in Australia on October 19, 23 and 25.
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