Despite dominating modern cricket, the BCCI is set to usher in a new era for India with a fresh captain for the ODI format as it looks ahead to the future.
According to reports, Shubman Gill has officially been handed the reins of India’s ODI side, replacing Rohit Sharma as captain ahead of the three-match series against Australia starting October 19. The 26-year-old opener, already India’s Test captain and T20I vice-captain, now steps into a formal leadership role across all formats.
Rohit Sharma’s role as ODI captain had been under the microscope for some time, especially following his retirement from T20I and Test cricket.
Sources suggest the change was made with long-term planning in mind, as Gill is seen as the man to lead India into the 2027 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
For Rohit Sharma, this marks the end of a significant ODI captaincy tenure. Since becoming full-time skipper in December 2021, he led India in 56 ODIs, winning 42 of them and guiding the team to Asia Cup titles in 2018 and 2023. His most notable success came earlier this year, when India lifted the ICC Champions Trophy in March 2025. Despite stepping down as captain, Rohit remains with the team as a specialist batter.
The Australia series also marks a much-anticipated comeback for Rohit and Virat Kohli, who have not featured for India since the Champions Trophy in March. With both having retired from Tests and T20Is, the ODIs in Australia will be their first taste of international cricket in over seven months.
While Shubman Gill has captained India 11 times already, the Australia series will be his first assignment as a full-fledged ODI captain. India’s tour of Australia will feature three ODIs on October 19, 23, and 25, followed by five T20Is from October 29 to November 8.
As India turns the page on one era and begins another, Shubman Gill’s elevation to ODI captaincy signals more than just a leadership change, it marks a generational shift in Indian cricket.
For Pakistani fans, it’s a moment laced with irony and intrigue: the man who ended Babar Azam’s reign atop the ODI batting charts now leads India into its next World Cup cycle. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping into the twilight, Gill stands at the helm of a new chapter, one that promises fresh rivalries, renewed intensity, and a future full of fire.
