Rohit, Kohli no longer 'indispensable'; fear of 'disturbed' team culture led to Gill's ODI captaincy: Report

Indian cricket team chief selector Ajit Agarkar refused to speculate on the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as he named a new ODI captain in Shubman Gill on Saturday, but an explosive report claims that the legendary duo is no longer “indispensable” in the squad.

Agarkar, in the press conference, definitely hinted that Gill was made the ODI captain with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rohit would be 40 and Kohli would be 39 by the time the 2027 World Cup starts and in such a scenario, it makes a lot of sense that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants to be future-ready.

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However, the planning for the future doesn’t just include handing over the captaincy to Gill; it also involves dropping Rohit and Kohli from the ODI team if their form becomes an issue. The next ODI series against Australia will be their first international assignment since the Champions Trophy 2025.

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Rohit, Kohli no longer ‘indispensable’

After retiring from Tests and T20Is, Rohit and Kohli have created a situation in which they would always struggle to have enough match practice unless they consistently compete in domestic matches. Amid such a scenario, a BCCI source has told the Times of India that Rohit and Kohli will only be picked on “merit” from here, as they are no longer indispensable.

“It has been a collective effort by Gambhir and Agarkar. They understand that it will be tough for both Rohit and Kohli to be at their peak after two years, given that they are in their late 30s. They didn’t want to be caught off guard if suddenly Rohit or Kohli’s form dipped," the BCCI source told TOI.

“It would have created chaos in the leadership group. The duo announcing retirement from Tests days before the selection for the England tour was a case in point. The team won the Champions Trophy and two Tests in England even without Bumrah. It has given the confidence that no one is indispensable in the current scenario.”

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Rohit’s presence disturbed team culture?

The source added that one of the reasons Gill was made captain in ODIs was because coach Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar are looking to have a long-term all-format captain and having Rohit as the skipper in ODIs could have threatened the team culture.

“A player of Rohit’s stature in a leadership role would have meant he would get to drive his philosophy in the dressing room. But with him playing only in ODIs, a format which is played the least, it could have disturbed the team culture,” the source added.

“Gambhir had taken a back seat in Tests and ODIs in the first six months of his assignment but the debacles against New Zealand and Australia prompted him to take charge more firmly.”