Reactions are still flowing two days after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stripped Rohit Sharma of his ODI captaincy and appointed Shubman Gill in his place. The former Indian skipper, now simply referred to as Rohit, has garnered backing from voices like Mohammad Kaif, who argues that Rohit deserved to lead the side through the 2027 World Cup. Kaif warns that thrusting so much responsibility on Gill at once might have damaging effects, and without the captaincy, Rohit’s prospects of featuring in the 2027 tournament appear significantly diminished.
In just two months, Gill has been elevated to India’s Test and ODI captain, while also named T20I vice-captain, positioning him to succeed Suryakumar Yadav following next year’s home World Cup. Though this progression seems seamless on the surface, Kaif is convinced that Gill faced undue pressure to accept the leadership roles.
“This development was anticipated, but I thought it would come after the 2027 World Cup. The player has talent and has improved his fitness, giving him a solid shot at the 2027 event. Yet, the burden now rests heavily on Gill, all coming too quickly. It risks leading to setbacks. Overloading someone so rapidly can easily rebound,” Kaif stated in a video on his official YouTube channel.
“My concern is to avoid overwhelming him. He’s captaining in Tests and batting at number four. He became vice-captain for the Asia Cup and will step up after Suryakumar Yadav. Now, he’s ODI captain too. Everything feels rushed. No player seeks out captaincy it’s well-known that Gill wasn’t keen. You don’t request it, but he’s widely admired and seen as the long-term leader. The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, have pushed him into this.”
Rohit’s Leadership Loss Hits Hard
Having observed Rohit closely over the years and understanding his approach, Kaif believes the 38-year-old won’t operate the same way anymore. In his final outing as captain, Rohit guided India to victory in the Champions Trophy, but with the BCCI effectively removing him from the role—as Kaif puts it—Rohit’s form is bound to suffer when he returns to batting duties in the upcoming three-match series against Australia from October 19.
“What has Rohit Sharma done wrong? It’s regrettable that we couldn’t extend his captaincy tenure beyond four years. He’s an exceptional batsman and a superb leader who could have built an even stronger record in charge. Removing the captaincy feels like severing a player’s dominant hand,” Kaif noted.
For Rohit, opening the innings and leading the team were intertwined strengths. He may not notch centuries every game, but he delivered in high-stakes moments, like his 76 in the Champions Trophy final. Moving forward, he’ll face scrutiny on a match-by-match and series-by-series basis, leveling the field for all. Kaif questions whether Rohit even retains the motivation to continue playing.
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