Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli (Source: @BCCI/X.com)
After the sacking of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma as ODI captain, former Indian coach and selector Madan Lal and David Gower have expressed their views on Shubman Gill's appointment. Speaking on a show, Lal was quite affirmative of the fact that selectors have been quite optimistic about Gill's captaincy selection in one-day cricket, while Gower made a shocking remark.
Madan Lal questions Rohit's mindset under Shubman Gill
In a move that could be favourable to Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has been appointed the captain of the Indian one-day side for the upcoming Australian tour and beyond, with a focus on the ICC World Cup 2027, to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
However, the former Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, has been sacked from his position after leading the team to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title in February this year.
Speaking on the appointment, former Indian cricketer, coach, and selector Madan Lal is quite satisfied with the fact that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has looked forward to the main event in '27, as in his view, the appointment of Gill marks a futuristic move.
He expects that this move could pay dividends, as Gill will be given ample time to settle in the one-day side as skipper, considering he is also the leader of the Test team.
Speaking during a special episode of Cricket Predicta, Madan Lal, however, questioned if Rohit Sharma will be able to bat with his full flow under Gill's captaincy.
“This is an excellent decision by the selectors. Making Gill captain is a forward-looking move. He will be prepared for the World Cup. Now it will be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma performs under Gill’s leadership," Lal said on Cricket Predicta.
Lal further praised Gill for his captaincy record and called him captaincy material while applauding his ability to bat and adapt to the conditions, as was demonstrated in the previous Test series against England, where he batted with extreme grit. Lal was quite impressed with the fact that this move is likely to benefit India in the long run.
“Shubman Gill is an excellent leader and has proven himself in Test cricket. He came very close to breaking Don Bradman’s record. He is the future, and the selectors have made that clear. We must give him time to mature as a captain, especially as we aim for ODI glory in 2027. This series will provide him with the necessary exposure," he concluded.
Gower's massive remark on Virat and Rohit's future plans
In the same show, former England legend David Gower was also present, sharing his opinion on India's future plans. Making a massive statement, Gower predicted that he does not see Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli featuring in the 2027 World Cup, while adding that, despite Rishabh Pant's injury-prone nature, he will still play a crucial role for the team.
Gower believes that Shubman will be a vital factor for the Indian side in the future, and this is the right move for the Men in Blue in the years to come.
“I don’t see Virat and Rohit playing in the 2027 World Cup… Pant, yes, despite being injury-prone. The team will rely on young leaders like Gill to shape the future. This is a perfect opportunity for him to step up and guide India to success," Gower said.
With Shubman Gill's appointment, a new era in Indian cricket has begun, where Gill will be in charge of the two teams, Tests and ODIs, while Suryakumar Yadav is the skipper of the T20I lineup.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have retired from Tests and T20Is, will only be playing in the ODI series, where they will be up against the Australian team in the three-match ODI series set to be played from 19th till 25th of October.
.jpg?type=mq "Rohit vs Kohli captaincy comparison")
.jpg?type=mq "Arnav Chopra")