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Rohit Sharma's Captaincy Future In Jeopardy, Champions Trophy Final To Decide Fate: Reports

Soumyajit Dutta

Rohit Sharma [Source: @SPORTYVISHAL/X.com]Rohit Sharma [Source: @SPORTYVISHAL/X.com]

The result of Sunday’s ICC Champions Trophy final is expected to shape Indian cricket’s roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. This match could also influence the tenure of captain Rohit Sharma, as the BCCI prioritizes consistent leadership to strategize for the next two years.  

Meanwhile, Rohit’s fitness saga has also been a concern which though, has been defended by Suryakumar Yadav. Rohit too, didn’t fail to answer as he punched through an impressive knock in the semi-final against Australia. Nevertheless, his captaincy tenure is under scrutiny.

Rohit Sharma Might Leave ODI Captaincy

Insiders reveal that discussions may arise about transitioning Rohit from his role as ODI and Test captain. The BCCI has delayed announcing new central contracts, awaiting the final’s outcome. 

Reports indicate that chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have discussed leadership plans with both the board and Rohit following the Australia tour. During these talks, the captain reportedly acknowledged the need to chart a future course post-Champions Trophy.  

“Rohit still believes there is some cricket left in him. He has been told to communicate his plans going forward. Retiring is his call but there will be another discussion around continuing with captaincy. Rohit himself understands the need to have a stable captain if the team wants to prepare for a World Cup. There have been talks with Kohli too but there doesn’t seem to be much anxiety around him,” a BCCI source told TOI.  

“The board will wait for Rohit’s decision after the Champions Trophy. If by any chance he chooses to retire, then the board will see what needs to be done. One can’t discount the fact that he won the T20 World Cup in July and has led well in the Champions Trophy as well,” the source added.  

Annual Player Contracts On Hold

Typically, the BCCI finalizes annual player contracts before the IPL. However, the board opted to assess the team’s Champions Trophy performance after a difficult Test season. Speculation surrounds potential revisions to the A+ category, currently comprising Rohit, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. 

With the board favouring multi-format players for top-tier contracts, Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja’s T20I retirements and inconsistent Test form have raised questions. Strong performances in the Champions Trophy, however, might secure their A+ status. 

Meanwhile, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant could earn promotions to Grade A, while Shreyas Iyer is poised to regain his contract after previous disciplinary issues. Kohli’s stellar tournament display has bolstered his case.