Rohit Sharma's Captaincy in Jeopardy as Gautam Gambhir Weighs In

Rohit Sharma's recent retirement from Test cricket raises questions about his future as captain of the Indian ODI team. With Gautam Gambhir hinting at a potential shift in leadership, the dynamics within Team India may change significantly. Gambhir advocates for having two captains to reduce pressure, suggesting that Rohit might need to step down. Additionally, the future of both Rohit and Virat Kohli in the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup remains uncertain, hinging on their performances in the interim. This article delves into the implications of these developments for Indian cricket.
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Rohit Sharma's Captaincy in Jeopardy as Gautam Gambhir Weighs In

Rohit Sharma's Recent Retirement from Formats

Rohit Sharma has recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, leaving him with only the captaincy of India's ODI team. However, it appears that this role may also be at risk. The announcement of a new Test captain is imminent, while Suryakumar Yadav currently leads the T20 team. Following Rohit's retirement from Tests, it is anticipated that Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of Team India, may gain more influence. This situation suggests that Rohit might have to relinquish his captaincy.


Gautam Gambhir's Insights on Captaincy

In a recent statement regarding the captaincy of Team India, Gambhir expressed, 'As a coach, if you ask me, having one captain for all formats is beneficial. However, that is not always feasible. In today's cricket, one cannot expect a player to captain for 12 months straight. With 10 months of international cricket and 2 months of IPL, the captain of Team India will also lead a franchise team, which can negatively impact their performance and mindset. Therefore, having two captains is preferable to alleviate pressure.'


During an interview, Gambhir was asked whether it is better to have one captain for all formats or to appoint different captains for each team. He suggested that having two captains is more effective than three. However, with the upcoming announcement of a Test captain, Team India may end up with three different captains across formats. If Gambhir advocates for two captains, it could mean that Rohit may need to step down from his role, as previous reports have indicated that Rohit’s removal from the Test captaincy was influenced by Gambhir.


Future of Rohit and Virat in ODI World Cup 2027

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have bid farewell to Test and T20 formats but remain available for ODIs. Gambhir was questioned about the likelihood of both players participating in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He remarked, 'That is still quite far off. Before that, there is the T20 World Cup, a significant tournament taking place in India. Therefore, the focus will be on that after the England Test series. The 2027 World Cup is still two and a half years away. I have always said that if you keep performing, age is just a number.' This implies that their participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup will depend on their performance leading up to the event.


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