Ex-off-spinner Harbhajan Singh of India has expressed his shock at the choice of replacing Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain, and that the veteran opener had done justice to being made the leader of the team for Australia after India won the Champions Trophy recently.
“Congratulations to Shubman Gill. Obviously, he has been leading the team well in Test cricket, and now he’s been given another responsibility: to lead the ODI side as well. Of course, Rohit has been replaced as captain by Shubman, and Rohit is someone who holds a very good record in white-ball cricket,” Harbhajan told JioHotstar.
In a drastic change for the future, Indian selectors appointed Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain, marking the start of a new chapter with a view on the 2027 World Cup. Although the move is a reflection of long-term thinking, Harbhajan feels it has come a little too soon.
“To be honest, it’s a bit of a shock for me to see Rohit not being the captain. If you’re selecting Rohit Sharma, select him as captain, because he just recently won you the ICC Champions Trophy.
“Rohit has been one of the pillars of Indian cricket when it comes to white-ball formats. I think he should have been given at least this tour. If the selectors are thinking about the 2027 ODI World Cup, it’s still far away.”
The winner of the 2011 World Cup opined that the selectors might have waited for at least one more year before shifting the leadership mantle to Gill. In his opinion, Rohit had more to give as captain in the 50-over format.
“Shubman has a lot of time to grow into the role of ODI captain. I’m happy for Shubman; he’s got this opportunity, but it could have been delayed a little. He could have waited six to eight months or even a year before taking over.
“I’m happy for Shubman, but at the same time, I’m a bit disappointed for Rohit Sharma not being the captain,” Harbhajan said.
“If you look at Rohit’s ODI record, he’s averaging almost close to 50. That shows how consistent he’s been and what he brings to the table as an opener. There’s no doubt about his performances and his approach when it comes to playing for India.
“He’s been a phenomenal player, and that will not change. He will continue to bat the way he always has and continue to be a leader in the team, irrespective of whether he’s captain or not. He’ll keep giving advice to Shubman or anyone else whenever needed.
“Rohit Sharma has been one of India’s greatest white-ball captains,” said Harbhajan, referring to his two ICC titles and runner-up finish at the 2023 ODI World Cup as standout achievements. He further said that Rohit has already cemented his place among Indian cricket’s greats.
Looking ahead, Harbhajan is certain that the 38-year-old will still play a crucial role in India’s ODI unit. Together with Virat Kohli, Rohit would be required to provide experience and leadership as India prepares for the next World Cup cycle.
“As a batter, Rohit won’t change his approach. He’ll remain as fearless as ever, and so will Virat Kohli. These two top players will continue to drive Indian cricket forward, and we’re all looking forward to seeing them win matches for Team India.”
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“He’s one of those guys who hardly gets the credit he deserves. We talk about that World Cup in India, he scored back-to-back centuries, and with what pace! He’s an impact player; when he gets going, he makes things easy for the dressing room and the other batters.
“I’m very happy that he’s back in the scheme of things, not just as a player but with a bigger responsibility as vice-captain. I’m looking forward to seeing him back and to see what he brings to the table in terms of ideas and how he and Shubman Gill take this team forward,” Harbhajan said.
