New Delhi, Oct 4 (NationPress) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajiv Shukla has extended his congratulations to Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer for their appointments as captain and vice-captain of the senior men's national cricket team for the upcoming ODI tour of Australia, which commences later this month.

The national selection committee has undertaken a significant overhaul ahead of India's forthcoming tour to Australia, designating Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer will serve as his deputy for the three-match ODI series.

The team includes the return of seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the ODIs, and Yashasvi Jaiswal is making a comeback.

However, the elevation of Gill and Iyer is celebrated as a progressive decision, as they are anticipated to lead until the World Cup 2027 and beyond.

"Congratulations to @ShubmanGill and @ShreyasIyer15 on being appointed captain and vice-captain of the Indian ODI team. This is a proud moment that showcases their dedication and perseverance. I wish both of them ongoing success in their new positions. @BCCI," Rajiv Shukla expressed in a post on X, previously known as Twitter.

This decision has raised eyebrows among some former Indian cricketers, including Harbhajan Singh, who expressed surprise at Rohit Sharma's absence from the captaincy role.

Harbhajan remarked that it was shocking to see Rohit Sharma traveling to Australia for the ODI series merely as a player, rather than as captain.

“Honestly, it’s quite surprising to not see Rohit in the captaincy role. If you are selecting Rohit Sharma, he should be captain, especially since he recently led you to the ICC Champions Trophy. Rohit has been a cornerstone of Indian cricket in white-ball formats. He should have been given at least this tour. If the selectors are considering the 2027 ODI World Cup, that’s still a long way off," he stated.