Rohit Sharma’s ODI captaincy appears to be in danger after being dropped from the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Reports suggest that Hardik Pandya has emerged as the strongest contender to replace Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain. In the final Test match against Australia, which began on January 3, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah stepped in to lead the team in Rohit’s absence.
Has Rohit Played His Last Match?
During the toss, Bumrah stated that Rohit had decided to take a “rest” from the Test match. However, several media reports in India claimed that Rohit was dropped due to poor form in the previous three Tests. He was excluded not only from the playing XI but also from the 15-member squad available for selection. This has led cricket experts to speculate that Rohit may have played his last Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Why is Pandya the Ideal Replacement for Rohit?
Even if it was Rohit’s last international match, he is already 37 years old. With the 2025 Champions Trophy scheduled in Pakistan and the UAE, India will need a new ODI captain to lead the team. According to MyKhel, an anonymous source stated, “Hardik has the ability to lead in high-pressure situations. His experience as an all-rounder and leader makes him an ideal candidate for ICC tournaments like the Champions Trophy.”
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A Twist in the Story
The report ruled out Gujarat Titans’ IPL captain Shubman Gill and T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav as alternatives. It mentioned, “Gill needs more time and preparation to mature as a captain. SKY’s performance in ODIs has been quite average. Since his place in the team is not guaranteed, captaincy is out of the question. If Rohit is unavailable, Hardik remains the most balanced option to lead India in ODIs.”
Hardik’s Captaincy Experience
Hardik Pandya has already captained India in three ODI matches. In March 2023, he led the team to a five-wicket victory against Australia. Later that year, in July and August, he guided India to two dominant wins over West Indies—one by six wickets and another by a massive 200 runs.
However, fitness concerns have kept Hardik away from Test cricket. Initially, he was considered a T20 captaincy option, but after Rohit stepped down, the BCCI entrusted Suryakumar Yadav with that responsibility.
Now, with questions arising over Rohit’s future, Hardik Pandya seems to be the frontrunner for India’s ODI captaincy.