Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has supported the decision to hand over India’s ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma to Shubman Gill. He also highlighted the importance of clear communication with Rohit.
On Saturday, 4 October, the BCCI officially announced the ODI squad, naming Gill as the new ODI captain.
Nayar believes the move makes sense as long as Rohit was part of the discussion, as the veteran will continue to guide the young team through this transitional phase.
Speaking to Star Sports, Nayar emphasised the main factor that matters to him. “For me, there’s only one thing. Look, as long as that discussion happened with him, as long as he was on the same page, if he also said, ‘Yes, we have to look forward, we want to give Shubman Gill a chance, and I’ll be there in that dressing room with you to help him through it,’ then I am all for it,” he said.
Nayar, who is a close friend of Rohit, added that keeping the former skipper involved in the decision-making was the right approach.
“I think it’s a great decision because you’ve kept the captain (Rohit) in the loop. You’ve given him that responsibility — ‘help us take this team forward like you did till now.’ I feel he deserves that much,” he asserted.
The former Mumbai batter further noted that only Rohit can confirm how the decision was handled. “And that’s a question only he can answer,” Nayar said.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained the decision to appoint Gill as the new skipper, saying it’s impossible to have three different captains. At the press conference, he also mentioned there is uncertainty regarding Rohit’s participation in the 2027 World Cup.
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