Shubman Gill Emerges as Top Contender for India’s ODI Captaincy Amidst Transition

The Indian cricket team is undergoing a significant transition, marked by new players and a fresh coaching staff. Key retirements have opened opportunities for emerging talent, necessitating leadership changes across all formats. While the focus earlier in the year was on the Test captaincy succession, attention has now shifted to India’s ODI leadership. Speculation surrounds veteran captain Rohit Sharma’s potential retirement from One Day Internationals, sparking discussions about his successor. Shreyas Iyer’s name has been mentioned, particularly due to his successful IPL captaincy. However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has dismissed these rumors, stating that no discussions have taken place regarding replacing Rohit Sharma. Instead, Shubman Gill is considered the frontrunner for the ODI captaincy, favored by the board. A source indicated that Gill is the preferred choice, also after having recently taken over the Test leadership. The source highlighted Gill’s impressive ODI average of 59 and his current role as vice-captain, suggesting he should take over the ODI leadership when the time comes.