Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has thrown his weight behind Shreyas Iyer to be the next ODI captain. Rohit Sharma is the current incumbent but his future remains uncertain with BCCI reportedly looking towards the future. Rayudu, who played with Rohit at MI, has backed Iyer over Shubman Gill, who is the current vice-captain.
Not Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer will be the next ODI captain, says Ambati Rayudu
Shreyas Iyer may have missed out on the Asia Cup 2025 squad, but Rayudu believes he will be the next ODI captain. Iyer is a regular in the 50-over format starring in India’s 2023 WC and 2025 Champions Trophy campaigns. As a leader, he led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title. He followed it up with Punjab Kings first IPL final in over decade in 2025.
“(Shreyas) Iyer. I think Iyer. He has extraordinary calmness. He has taken KKR to be the champions. Then the way he has led a young Punjab team. Nobody was giving them a chance even. He is an extraordinary captain, and he should become captain soon,” Rayudu said in a podcast with Shubankar Mishra.
Currently, Rohit Sharma remains skipper and will lead the side against Australia in October. The Hit-Man aims to play until the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. However, the India skipper will be 40 and doubts remain on his fitness.
Recent reports have linked Shubman Gill to take over from Rohit Sharma. Gill was the vice-captain in the Champions Trophy and was elevated to Test captaincy earlier this year. He is also deputy to Suryakumar Yadav in the T20I format.
While Shreyas has had the door slam on him in T20Is and Tests, he remains a key cog in ODIs. Iyer averages a healthy 48.22 after 70 ODIs, with 22 fifties and 5 centuries. He has made the number 4 spot his own, and was India’s leading run getter in Champions Trophy 2025.
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