India Advised To Name Shubman Gill As ODI Captain: 'Irrespective Of Whether Rohit Sharma...'

While Shubman Gill has taken over as India Test captain, Rohit Sharma remains the ODI skipper.

With nearly two years before the next ODI World Cup rolls in, has the time come for India to name a new captain? If former South African batter Daryl Cullinan is to be believed, then Gill has to be given the charge of India’s one-day team even if the incumbent Rohit Sharma is part of the playing XI.

Speculations are rife over the ODI futures of both Rohit and Virat Kohli, the two stalwarts of Indian cricket who retired from Test cricket within days of each other earlier this year. Incidentally, they called time on their T20I careers at the same time in 2024, moments after India became the world champions.

“Yes, Gill for captaincy, irrespective of whether Rohit is playing," Cullinan was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

There have been reports that Rohit and Kohli may not feature in the team management’s plans for the ODI next world cup which will be held in Africa in 2027.

India are set to tour Australia for a white-ball series in October during which they will play three ODIs and five T20Is. Reports claim that the ODI series could be the final of Rohit and Kohli’s careers. Cullinan feels that the duo has the experience and quality to still be part of India’s ODI setup. However, for that they need be part of competitive cricket regularly against playing in a select few games.

“Well, I think from an ability and experience point of view, they (Rohit and Kohli) could play, I don’t think there’s any doubt in that, but they’d have to be on the ground of international cricket," Cullinan said.

“If I were the coach or convener of selectors, because no matter how good you are, thinking that you can just play a few games or select a few games, not put in the hours and then step in and think you’re going to perform, no, that doesn’t work that way," he added.

Cullinan felt players need to be in the right frame of mind, be physically fit and play “serious amount of cricket" if they wish to be part of the world cup.

“I’m not saying they need to be on the circuit all the time, but they need to have played a serious amount of cricket, especially going into the World Cup," he said.

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