'They have to play... ': Ex-India captain tells what Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli need to do to survive in ODI team

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday supported the decision to hand over India’s ODI captaincy to Shubman Gill, describing it as a “fair call and not the worst decision.” Ganguly suggested the move was likely made considering age and the fact that the ODI World Cup is two years away.

“I think it has been done in consultation with Rohit, from outside... I don't know what's inside,” Ganguly said at a recent event. “Somewhere down the line, I feel that it's a fair call. can keep playing and in the meantime, you keep grooming a young captain. So, I really don't see a problem in that.”


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India will play three ODIs in Australia starting October 19, followed by a five-match T20I series from October 29. The decision by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee also considers the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, when Rohit will be over 40 and Virat Kohli 38.

“In the last two years, he (Rohit) has won the T20 World Cup. He has won the Champions Trophy. So, performance is not the issue with Rohit Sharma,” Ganguly said, as quoted by PTI. “But when they go to 2027 in South Africa, he will be 40 years old. And that's a big number in sport. And he has played for so long. So, I don't think anybody is sure whether Rohit will actually play when he is 40. So, I don't think it's the worst decision. It happens to everyone.”

On the future of Rohit and Kohli in the national set-up, Ganguly emphasized the importance of domestic cricket. “Yes, 40 is a lot of age. It depends on him — how fit he stays, how much cricket he plays and how many runs he scores… Whatever opportunity they get, they have to play domestic cricket. Because cricket is a sport where you have to keep playing — otherwise, you lose the touch and the form and the contact.”

Turning to Gill, Ganguly praised the 26-year-old’s performance during India’s five-Test series in England, where he scored 754 runs with four centuries, surpassing Graham Gooch’s 752 in 1990 and Sunil Gavaskar’s 732 as captain against West Indies in 1978-79.

“For the tour of England, I thought he was brilliant. I have seen the five-Test series. The way he has played and the way he has captained the team is extraordinary. That is why he has been made the captain of the ODI team for the future. Lot of potential, both as a player and captain,” Ganguly concluded, underlining India’s faith in Gill’s leadership for the years ahead.

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