TV
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes that the 2027 ODI World Cup will mark Rohit Sharma’s final appearance in One Day Internationals. With Rohit already retired from Test cricket and T20Is, Kaif feels the baton will be passed to Shubman Gill, who is being groomed as India’s future leader.
Gill, at 25, is already the Test captain and recently named vice-captain in T20Is. Speculation is rife that he could soon replace Rohit as India’s skipper in the 50-over format.
“Gill has scored over 2000 runs in the last three years. He is undoubtedly the future captain in ODIs and T20Is. He is already leading India in Tests and is the T20 vice-captain for the Asia Cup. Rohit is 38 now and will bow out after the 2027 World Cup. Once he retires, Gill will take charge,” Kaif said.
Gill was not part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning squad in the USA and West Indies but captained the T20I side against Zimbabwe soon after. He then featured in both ODIs and Tests, and is set to return to T20 cricket for the first time since 2024.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained Gill’s rise, stating: “He has natural leadership qualities and performed beyond expectations in the England Test series. A captain is always under pressure, and Gill has shown he can handle it.”
So far, Gill has played 21 T20Is, scoring 578 runs at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate of 139.27.
