Shubman Gill Takes Over as India’s ODI Captain: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Stage Comeback for Australia Tour

BCCI signals generational shift with young leader at helm; veterans retained as squad eyes 2027 World Cup prep amid three-match series starting October 19

Mumbai, October 4, 2025 – In a seismic shift for Indian cricket, the BCCI on Saturday named Shubman Gill as the new captain of the ODI team, stripping Rohit Sharma of the role he held since 2021, while handing vice-captaincy to Shreyas Iyer. The announcement, timed just after India’s emphatic innings victory over West Indies in the first Test in Ahmedabad, sees Rohit and Virat Kohli return to white-ball action after a seven-month hiatus, injecting star power into the squad for the upcoming tour Down Under.

The 15-member ODI squad, unveiled by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, blends youthful promise with seasoned expertise as India gears up for a three-match series against Australia—beginning October 19 in Perth, followed by clashes in Adelaide on October 23 and Sydney on October 25—before transitioning to a five-match T20I leg. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the T20Is, with Gill as his deputy, underscoring the board’s strategy to consolidate leadership across formats.

Gill, already India’s Test skipper since earlier this year, steps into uncharted ODI captaincy territory despite a glittering personal record: 2,775 runs in 55 ODIs at an average of 59.04, including eight centuries and a strike rate of 99.56. His List A leadership credentials are solid, with five wins in six outings, but this marks his international debut in the role. “Three captains across formats aren’t feasible,” Agarkar explained in a press conference, emphasizing the need for stability ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. “Rohit and Virat’s participation there isn’t locked in yet—we’ve discussed it with them.”

Rohit, 38, and Kohli, nearing 37, last featured in ODIs during India’s Champions Trophy triumph in March, where Rohit smashed 76 in the final against New Zealand and Kohli anchored with steady contributions. Both have retired from Tests and T20Is but cleared fitness protocols at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, signaling their intent to prolong limited-overs legacies. Agarkar quipped on their form: “Their experience is gold, but performances will dictate the future.”

Iyer’s elevation to vice-captain caps a strong resurgence; the middle-order stalwart, who topped India’s scoring in the 2025 Champions Trophy with 243 runs across five games, returns after his own break. In 70 ODIs, he boasts 2,845 runs at 48.22, including five hundreds. Notably snubbed from the T20I squad, Iyer’s inclusion reinforces his ODI focus.

The squad lineup reflects calculated selections: KL Rahul as primary wicketkeeper, with Dhruv Jurel—fresh off a Test century against West Indies—as backup, edging out Sanju Samson, who earns a T20I spot instead. Jasprit Bumrah sits out ODIs for rest but headlines the T20I pace attack, while injured duo Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant are absent. Emerging talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana add dynamism, with spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar providing balance.

ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal.

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vc), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.

This tour, part of India’s packed 2025-26 calendar, tests the new hierarchy on bouncy Australian pitches, where Rohit and Kohli have historically thrived—Kohli averages 54.46 in 48 ODIs Down Under. As Agarkar put it, it’s a “chess move” for the long game: grooming Gill while leveraging the old guard’s nous. Fans and pundits alike will watch if this blend ignites a fresh chapter or sparks tensions in a squad bridging eras.