Shubman Gill will lead India’s one-day side in Australia later this month, taking over from Rohit Sharma for the three-match series that begins on 19 October. Rohit and Virat Kohli both keep their places as specialist batters, marking their first international outings since the Champions Trophy in March.
The switch was confirmed on Saturday after the selection panel, headed by Ajit Agarkar, met in Ahmedabad – the same evening India wrapped up a thumping innings win against West Indies in the first Test. Selection sources say the move is designed to give Gill a clear run at the role in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Expert reaction was mixed, if largely positive. Former opener Aakash Chopra admitted the timing surprised him, saying, “Didn’t see Gill’s appointment coming this soon,” while adding that the 26-year-old “ticks most of the leadership boxes already”.
Gill now holds a leadership title in every format: Test captain, ODI captain and T20I vice-captain. His rapid rise follows a productive summer, in which he topped the Test run charts in England with 754 runs at 75.40 and oversaw a 2-2 draw in his first series as red-ball skipper.
Rohit’s ODI captaincy began in December 2021 and produced 42 wins from 56 matches, plus Asia Cup triumphs in 2018 (as stand-in) and 2023. He also took India to the World Cup final last year before lifting the Champions Trophy in March – a run of success that makes the handover feel more like careful succession planning than a reaction to poor results.
Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have, we’re told, been keen to give Gill enough time to mould the side. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was also part of the discussion, though none of the trio has spoken publicly yet.
Rohit, 38, and Kohli, 36, have retired from Tests and T20Is, so the upcoming ODIs in Australia will be their first India appearances for more than seven months. They are also available for home series against South Africa in November-December and New Zealand in January.
Fixture list in Australia
• 1st ODI: 19 Oct, Sydney
• 2nd ODI: 23 Oct, Adelaide
• 3rd ODI: 25 Oct, Melbourne
Five T20Is follow from 29 October to 8 November.
India hope that blend of Gill’s fresh captaincy and the experience of Rohit and Kohli will settle the side ahead of the next major global event. For now, the focus is on Australia – and on how quickly their new skipper can stamp his mark.
