Ahmedabad, Oct 4 (NationPress) Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his surprise at seeing Rohit Sharma travel to Australia for the ODI series exclusively as a player, rather than as the captain. Notably, Shubman Gill has taken over the ODI captaincy from the Mumbai batter, as announced by the BCCI when revealing the squads for the Australia tour.

Discussing this on JioHotstar following the first Test between India and the West Indies, Harbhajan shared his insights on Shubman Gill's new role:

“Congratulations to Shubman Gill. He has been leading the team effectively in Test cricket, and now he’s entrusted with the responsibility of leading the ODI side. While it's noteworthy that Rohit has been replaced, he has an impressive record in white-ball cricket.”

“Honestly, it’s a bit shocking for me to see Rohit not being the captain. If Rohit is being selected, he should be the captain, especially after recently winning the ICC Champions Trophy. He has been a cornerstone of Indian cricket in white-ball formats, and I believe he should have been considered for at least this tour. If selectors are planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup, that's still a long way off.”

“Shubman has ample time to grow into the ODI captaincy. I’m pleased for Shubman; he has this chance, but perhaps it could have been postponed a bit longer. He could have waited six to eight months or even a year before taking the reins. I’m happy for Shubman, but I do feel a sense of disappointment for Rohit Sharma not being the captain.”

Moving forward, Rohit will focus solely on ODIs without any leadership duties assigned. He has notably retired from Tests and T20Is, with Gill and Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as captains in those formats, respectively.

On Rohit’s future role in the team, Harbhajan remarked: “Rohit’s ODI statistics show he averages nearly 50, highlighting his consistency and the value he brings as an opener. His performance and approach while representing India remain unquestionable. He is a remarkable player, and that won't change.”

“Regardless of his captaincy status, he will continue to lead by example, providing guidance to Shubman and others as necessary. Rohit's batting style will remain unchanged; he will continue to play fearlessly, just like Virat Kohli. These two elite players will continue to propel Indian cricket forward, and we eagerly anticipate their contributions to Team India.”

Another significant development was Shreyas Iyer being named as Gill’s deputy in the 50-over format. Iyer, who recently received a six-month break from red-ball cricket, will now assume a leadership role as India faces Australia.

Commenting on Iyer’s vice-captaincy, the former spinner said: “I’m thrilled for Shreyas Iyer. He is one of those players who rarely gets the recognition he deserves. We often discuss that World Cup in India, where he scored consecutive centuries with remarkable pace! He is an impact player; when he’s in form, he simplifies things for the team and other batsmen. I’m delighted he’s back in the spotlight, not only as a player but now with added responsibility as vice-captain. I’m eager to see what he brings in terms of ideas and how he and Shubman Gill will advance this team.”

Parthiv Patel also commented on Shubman Gill’s new ODI captaincy, stating, “Clearly, India is eyeing the 2027 ODI World Cup. While both Rohit and Virat remain on the team, this is a promising development for Indian cricket. Rohit has established a strong legacy, serving as an exemplary captain, inspiring young players with his composure and providing great stability.”

“India is now looking towards a youthful captain. They adopted a similar strategy with Shubman Gill in Test cricket. I believe his success in England as Test captain influenced this decision. There were earlier doubts about whether Shubman was the future captain, but he has now assured the selectors and team management of his capabilities. This is an exciting time for Indian cricket,” he added.

The former wicketkeeper-batter elaborated on the rationale behind appointing Gill as the new captain, stating: “There must be a thought process behind this decision. Leading up to 2027, there won’t be many ODI matches, so it’s crucial to have your core team playing under a consistent captain. You wouldn't want to be searching for a new leader at the end of 2026. This is a progressive move. When MS Dhoni became captain in 2007, he had seniors like Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, and Gautam Gambhir supporting him. Then Virat Kohli had Dhoni’s experience backing him. Similarly, Shubman will have Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to guide him through this journey. This is how we build a cohesive team, which is why appointing Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain is a sound decision.”

Parthiv Patel also reflected on India’s victory over the West Indies and their dominance at home. Notably, India triumphed over the visitors by an innings and 140 runs to secure a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series on home soil.

“Without a doubt, India has always been a dominant force at home and rightly so. We’ve won every series since 2012, except the one against New Zealand. India needed to showcase their dominance. They are currently positioned as the number-one team in world cricket across formats, at least according to their performance. While they may not hold the top ranking, visitors to India are well aware of what to expect. India had to assert their authority, and they certainly did today.”

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