Shubman Gill has been named India’s next ODI skipper, and here are the challenges that lie ahead of him.
The Ro-Ko dilemma, if it ever comes up
At just 26, Gill inherits arguably one of the greatest ODI sides, one that has reached levels of dominance unseen since the days of Ponting’s Australia. Yet, his greatest test will lie in managing the inevitable shift from two giants, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Both players are absolute legends of the game, but they now stand at the crossroads of age and time. Ajit Agarkar recently admitted that the duo are non-committal about the 2027 World Cup, when Kohli will be 39 and Rohit past 40. The uncertainty is understandable: The number of ODI matches has shrunk drastically, with India playing just six bilateral matches since the start of 2024, and a further five in the Champions Trophy this year.
With only nine more scheduled till mid-2026, a new challenge presents itself for Rohit and Kohli. Neither play Tests nor T20Is, which means that outside of the IPL, ODIs are the only competitive matches they play – unless they go back to domestic cricket. Kohli has never faced this schedule, having turned out in all three formats till his T20I retirement last year. Rohit, two years older, was not a Test regular till 2018, but there’s no denying that both will find it even harder to maintain rhythm and sharpness without regular match practice. If either of them loses form, India could find themselves confronting a deeply uncomfortable question: do they persist with two legends whose reputations still tower over the format, or do they start moving on with the World Cup in mind?
An even trickier situation could arise if the selectors feel compelled to phase one out before the other. In the past, both have timed their Test and T20I retirements almost in sync, but if India reach a stage where they feel one should continue while the other is left out, that conversation will not be the most pleasant one. It would test Gill’s leadership as he navigates the emotional challenges of managing two of Indian cricket’s most defining figures, whose careers have long run in parallel.
Beyond managing their twilight years, Gill must also prepare the next wave of batters capable of stepping into these enormous shoes. Yashasvi Jaiswal looks set to take over the opening role, but his experience remains minimal with just one ODI and 33 List A matches so far. While he’s often viewed as India’s next all-format star, his development as a back-up for the 2027 World Cup hinges on consistent opportunities, which may not come if Rohit continues to play most of the ODIs. And while there’s at least a potential heir to Rohit, there’s no clear No. 3 waiting in the wings should Kohli’s form dip or he decide to step away.
The recent Test series against England showed that India will be fine without the senior pros, but that was different. The team had to move on, and both Rohit and Kohli, along with R Ashwin, knew it was time. In ODIs, both still have much to offer, but there will also be a constant cloud of doubt if they have a string of poor scores. It’s never easy for superstars to be in this position, and Gill’s task will be to have plenty of conversations, ensure transparency and when it’s time, to bid them farewell with the respect they deserve.
Developing a reliable pool of seamers
If there is one area that Gill’s ODI side cannot overlook, it is fast bowling. India’s spin attack is one of the best in the world, but with the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, where surfaces are expected to favour bounce and pace, they will need a group of seamers who can consistently hit the deck hard, extract movement, and adapt to both new-ball and middle-overs roles.
Jasprit Bumrah remains the pillar of this attack, but his workload must be carefully managed across formats. Till the tournament, India’s three major assignments will be the T20 World Cup, the away Test series in New Zealand and a five-match home Test series against Australia. His fitness has long been a matter of concern, and how he holds up will largely determine how India’s fast bowling will look. Mohammed Shami is unlikely to participate, which leaves Mohammed Siraj as the second experienced seamer, but his omission from the Champions Trophy squad, with Rohit suggesting he is not effective with the older ball, means he cannot be fully relied upon if Bumrah misses out.
The supporting cast will therefore be crucial. Prasidh Krishna offers height and bounce, making him well-suited to South African conditions, but his form and rhythm have fluctuated for India. Arshdeep Singh brings left-arm variation and control with the new ball but still lacks the pace to intimidate on truer surfaces. Harshit Rana is a hit-the-deck seamer capable of maintaining high speeds and intensity in flat conditions, and could be someone who could develop into India’s enforcer through the middle overs if managed well. That he’s one of the few players who make it to the squads of all three formats suggests how valued he is in the camp.
Beyond pure pace options, Gill must also look at a backup to Hardik Pandya, who is one of the most vital players in the team. He provides balance that no one else can in this side, but his recurring fitness concerns underline the need for options. The selectors have tested options like Shivam Dube and Venkatesh Iyer, but neither has yet proven reliable in 50-over cricket. Nitish Kumar Reddy seems the next option in line – having played Tests and T20Is already – and he is in the ODI squad for the tour of Australia. But even he has had fitness issues in his short career.
Grooming a pace-bowling all-rounder, perhaps through domestic cricket or India A tours, should become a priority, ensuring India aren’t caught short if Hardik (and/or Reddy) faces another extended layoff.
Gill’s own workload
Gill, alongside Jasprit Bumrah, is one of the few Indian players who are regular across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. While Bumrah is likely to be rested intermittently to manage his workload, Gill, who has leadership roles in all three formats, will have little breathing space. His recent schedule underscores the challenge: the T20 Asia Cup concluded on September 29, followed by the Test series against West Indies on October 2. That tour will end on October 14, which will then be followed by a white-ball series in Australia from October 19 to November 8. He will then lead against South Africa at home from November 14.
Unlike earlier phases where India’s core group of multi-format players ensured continuity and rhythm, the current cycle involves constant chopping and changing, with different players featuring in different formats. Unlike previously, each series holds greater significance too: With the World Cups coming thick and fast, most games are opportunities to try out different combinations, while the World Test Championship means each bilateral series has added value. Gill must not only adapt quickly but also maintain his form and energy across formats with minimal recovery time.
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