As reported, the outcome of the Champions Trophy final may become a turning point in the future of India captain Rohit Sharma. According to the report, the BCCI was supposed to appoint a stable captain for the next ICC World Test Championship cycle (2025-27) and for the 2027 ODI World Cup as part of its preparation plans for the next two years. While the 37-year-old Rohit is allowed to take a reluctant call regarding his retirement, there would be “tough discussion” regarding the team appointing new Test and ODI captain(s).
“Rohit still believes that there is some cricket left in him,” the BCCI source quoted The Times of India as saying. “He has to communicate to the board about his plans going forward. Although it is up to him when he wants to retire, there will be another discussion about the captaincy. Rohit himself understands that if he wants to prepare for a World Cup, there has to be a stable captain.” The BCCI also chatted with Virat Kohli, according to the report.
“There have been talks with Kohli too, but there doesn’t seem to be much anxiety around him,” said the source.
Select Chief Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly conversed with Rohit after the wound up India’s Australia tour this year in January. Rohit has seen 67 Tests, 272 ODIs, and 159 T20Is, hoping to win his third ICC Trophy as a player and second as a captain when India clashes with New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday.
In the past, MS Dhoni had stepped down as ODI captain two years before the 2019 World Cup, which at least gave his successor, Kohli, a fair chance to settle into cool shoes. On the other hand, Rohit took over India’s white-ball captaincy from Kolhi in 2021, almost two years before the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Already appointed vice-captain for the ODI by India, Shubman Gill is another indication that whenever Rohit decides to step aside, the 25-year-old is likely to take over.
