Will Rohit Sharma's performance improve after being removed as ODI captain?

Former India spinner Amit Mishra believes that veteran batsman Rohit Sharma stepping down as captain of the Indian ODI team could actually work in the opener’s favor. Rohit recently passed the leadership baton to Shubman Gill ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia. During his tenure, Rohit led India in 56 ODIs, winning 42 of them.

Rohit’s final stint as captain came during the Champions Trophy earlier this year, after which he took a break from international cricket following his Test retirement. According to Mishra, being free from the burden of captaincy will allow Rohit to focus purely on his batting and contribute to India’s success.

“I think it’s a positive move for Rohit. Without the pressure of captaincy, he now has the freedom to concentrate on his own game and help the team win matches. He can also mentor Gill and share his leadership experience,” Mishra said during a recent interaction.

Mishra further supported the decision to appoint Gill as captain, noting that the 25-year-old already has valuable leadership experience from the IPL. He believes that handing Gill the responsibility at an early stage will help him develop faster and serve Indian cricket for many years.

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“It’s a good opportunity for Gill. He has been leading in the IPL for the past two seasons and has captained top international players. Giving him the ODI captaincy now will help him mature quickly. He should enjoy the role and focus on growing as a leader,” Mishra added.

India will start their new ODI cycle under Gill’s leadership with the upcoming three-match series against Australia, beginning on October 19. The team has already arrived Down Under, with Rohit seen training alongside Virat Kohli in Perth.