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In a major development in Indian cricket, the leadership baton for the ODI format has officially passed from Rohit Sharma to Shubman Gill, marking the beginning of a new era. The change, which sparked widespread discussion among fans and pundits, comes after Rohit successfully led India to titles in the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. While many speculated about the reasons behind the decision, former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has stepped forward to clarify that the move is not a reflection of Rohit’s performance but a natural evolution in a player’s career.
Sourav Ganguly defends Rohit Sharma’s captaincy change
Ganguly has come out in support of the decision to replace Rohit as India’s ODI captain, describing it as a “natural progression” rather than a dismissal. Ganguly emphasized that such transitions are a part of every cricketer’s journey and that the move to appoint Gill as the new captain is a forward-looking step for Indian cricket.
“I’m sure Rohit must have been spoken to. I don’t think it’s a sacking; it must have been a mutual discussion. Rohit has been an outstanding leader — he’s won the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. His performance isn’t the issue at all,” Ganguly told India Today.
Ganguly went on to draw a comparison between Rohit’s current phase and the latter stages of his own career, as well as that of Rahul Dravid.
“In 2027, Rohit will be 40. That’s a big number in sport. It happened to me, it happened to Dravid… it happens to everyone. Even Shubman Gill will face the same one day when he reaches that age,” added Ganguly.
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Ganguly backs Shubman Gill as the next leader
Ganguly voiced strong support for the selection committee’s choice of Gill as India’s new ODI captain. He described Gill’s elevation as ‘a fair call’ based on both form and leadership potential. Gill has been in exceptional touch, particularly during India’s five-Test series in England earlier this year, where he amassed a staggering 754 runs — including four centuries — breaking long-standing records held by Graham Gooch and Sunil Gavaskar.
“Not a bad decision to promote Gill. He’s shown a lot of talent in England. I think it’s a fair call. Rohit can continue playing while you groom a young captain. It’s too early, but the way Gill has performed and led the side has been extraordinary. There’s a lot of potential in him — both as a batsman and as a captain,” explained Ganguly.
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