The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially addressed the ongoing debate about India’s next ODI captain. Following recent speculation that Shreyas Iyer was being considered as the successor to current captain Rohit Sharma, the BCCI has denied these reports, stating there have been no such discussions.
The debate intensified after the recent announcement of the Asia Cup squad, where Shubman Gill was named vice-captain. At the same time, Iyer’s exclusion from the squad caused a stir among cricket experts and fans. A leading Hindi daily then published a report claiming that the board had bigger plans for Iyer and was grooming him for the ODI captaincy.
However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has publicly refuted this claim. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Saikia stated, “That’s news to me. There have been no such discussions.” Other officials with knowledge of the selection meeting also denied the report, which had suggested Iyer was in line for the leadership role.
An unnamed BCCI official further clarified the board’s perspective, highlighting Shubman Gill as the clear choice for future leadership. “He [Gill] averages 59 in ODI cricket and is already the vice-captain of the team,” the official said. “There is no way someone who has recently been appointed Test captain, found some success and has age on his side should not take over leadership in ODI cricket, when the time comes.”
Focus Shifts to Rohit Sharma’s and Virat Kohli’s Future
Selectors to Assess Physical and Mental Preparedness Ahead of Australia Tour
While the debate around future captaincy continues, all eyes are now on the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia in October, which is expected to see the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. According to media reports, the future of these senior players will likely be decided only after the selectors have a direct conversation with them to assess their physical and mental readiness.
The Hindustan Times also reported that the selection committee has concerns about Rohit Sharma’s form and fitness holding up for the next ODI World Cup, which is scheduled for October-November 2027.
Meanwhile, the future of T20I captaincy is also being evaluated. Shubman Gill’s potential to lead the team in the T20 format will depend on his ability to quickly adapt to India’s new aggressive style of play. For now, Suryakumar Yadav is set to continue as the T20I captain until the next World Cup. Sources