This discussion has already begun, as many believe the Champions Trophy could be Rohit’s last ICC tournament. Since he has already retired from T20Is, he won’t be part of the upcoming T20 World Cup. India is also not in the WTC final, so there’s no Test Championship final for him. The next ODI World Cup is in 2027, which means several changes are expected before then.
Recently, reports suggested that Rohit Sharma’s future depends on how India performs in the Champions Trophy. Currently, the Men in Blue are thriving, and that’s why they have reached the Champions Trophy final. They have defeated every team in their path, from Bangladesh to Pakistan to New Zealand, and in the semifinals, they knocked Australia out. Once again, Rohit Sharma has shown his class as a leader.
Now, all eyes are on the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final. However, since discussions about his successor have already started, let’s take a look at three potential candidates who could lead India in ODIs if Rohit decides to step down as the white-ball captain.
Shubman Gill
Currently, India’s vice-captain in the ICC Champions Trophy and enjoying a great run with the bat, Shubman Gill is surely a name to watch out for. Many believe he is the one who will lead India with the bat, just as Sachin Tendulkar did in the past and as Virat Kohli is doing now. He is seen as the future of Indian cricket and is expected to score tons of runs.
It’s fair to say that Gill has already started showing glimpses of his potential. In fact, he is displaying incredible maturity day by day. He has already led India in T20Is, captaining the side against Zimbabwe last year, and now there is a strong chance he could be given the ODI captaincy as well.
Why not? His name is already a hot topic for this role after Rohit Sharma. We might see him take on the responsibility soon. Not to forget, he also led Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 and is set for another season as their captain.
Hardik Pandya
Although the chances are slim, it’s hard to ignore Hardik Pandya when considering captaincy options. And why not? He is arguably India’s best white-ball all-rounder right now and has also led India in T20Is in the past.
Yes, he lost the T20I captaincy last year, but he performed exceptionally well. Always a flamboyant personality, he understands his game and knows how to lead a team. He has already showcased his captaincy skills in the IPL, where he led Gujarat Titans to a title in 2022.
Although IPL 2024 didn’t end well for him, as Mumbai Indians struggled under his leadership, no one can deny his stature in Indian cricket. He remains a strong candidate and a valuable option to lead India in ODIs.
KL Rahul
It’s quite interesting to see how things have turned around for KL Rahul. His redemption has been incredible, as he is performing exceptionally well in the ongoing Champions Trophy.
What makes Rahul special is his flexibility, he can bat wherever the team needs him, keep wickets, and, if required, contribute as a fielder in the outfield. He also has decent captaincy experience from the IPL. A few years back, he was seen as a future captain, but his form deteriorated, and he lost his place due to inconsistency.
However, things now seem to be back on track. He is showing remarkable maturity, and we can expect that he could be in the BCCI’s plans when it comes to captaincy. Given the experience he brings, he certainly remains a strong option.
