 "Shubman Gill recently became India's vice-captain in T20Is for Asia Cup 2025. Image: Reuters")
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has dismissed the talk of Shreyas Iyer becoming India’s next ODI captain. According to Chopra, the BCCI has already decided that Shubman Gill will be the one to take over from Rohit Sharma in the 50-over format.
There have been rumours in recent days that Shreyas might be handed the reins and could even lead India into the 2027 Cricket World Cup. But Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel, said that Gill is being groomed as Rohit’s successor. Gill has already been named the vice-captain of the Indian T20 team after taking over the Test captaincy in June.
“Good question, because the rumour markets are hot. It was said that Shreyas Iyer would become the captain, that he would pip Shubman Gill to the post. Sir, from where do you get it? In my opinion, the next captain has been decided without appointment. It has been decided that it would be Shubman Gill,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
‘Shubman Gill is going to be the next captain’
Gill’s journey as leader of the Indian team began on a positive note as he had a dream tour of England, where he scored 754 runs in the series and led India to a 2-2 draw. He was also named India’s Player of the Series for outstanding performances throughout the tour.
“He is the Test captain. He has been made T20I vice-captain, maybe not out of turn as they had a logic, but Axar Patel hadn’t done anything wrong, and no one felt that the spot would automatically go to him, and you could have argued against it as well. If he has been made the T20I vice-captain, he is already the ODI vice-captain. So don’t ask the question. Shubman Gill is going to be the next captain,” he added.
Earlier, there were reports suggesting that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have already stepped down from Tests and T20Is, may be asked to retire from the 50-over format after the upcoming ODI series against Australia. It was claimed that the BCCI was looking to field a younger team for the next World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Africa.
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View AllHowever, the BCCI has refuted these claims, stating that no decision on Rohit and Kohli’s ODI future has been taken yet, and their focus right now is on the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.