Shubman Gill Likely to Lead India in ODIs for the First Time Amid Rohit Sharma's Injury Concerns
Shubman Gill might lead India for the first time in ODIs during their last group-stage match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. According to The Indian Express, the team management is considering giving regular captain Rohit Sharma a rest since the match has no impact on the tournament’s outcome. Rohit injured his hamstring while chasing the ball during Pakistan’s innings in India’s second Group A match on February 23. He seemed uncomfortable and eventually left the field after the 26th over.
Gill, as the vice-captain, took charge of the team for a while. Rohit came back to lead after a few overs, but he didn’t look fully fit. The worries about his fitness grew when he skipped batting during India's first practice session in Dubai on Wednesday, just two days after their win against Pakistan.
During India's intense training session on Wednesday, Rohit Sharma was the only Indian batter who didn’t bat in the nets. He didn’t even take throwdowns. Instead, the Indian captain spent a lot of time in discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir, possibly strategizing for the upcoming games. The only positive sign was a short sprint Rohit took, which suggested that his injury might not be too serious. However, it could still be enough for the team to consider resting him for the match against New Zealand.
The match against New Zealand holds little value in the tournament context, as both teams have already confirmed their semi-final spots. Another major reason why India is considering the possibility of resting captain Rohit Sharma from Sunday's match is the one-day gap between it and India's semi-final on Tuesday, March 4th.
India will play the first semi-final in Dubai on March 4, no matter where they finish in the standings. The reason is simple the other semi-final is in Pakistan, and India won’t be traveling there. However, their opponent for the knockout game is still undecided. Three teams from Group B Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa are all in the race for a semi-final spot. The upcoming match between Australia and Afghanistan on Friday will play a big role in deciding who makes it through.
If Rohit Sharma is unavailable or rested as a precaution before the semi-final, India may replace him with either Rishabh Pant or Washington Sundar. Both left-handers spent extra time in the nets, which they had not done before any match in Dubai during this tournament.
India does not have a backup opener in the squad. They had initially included Yashasvi Jaiswal but later replaced him with spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. KL Rahul is an option, as he has played as an opener for most of his career. However, sending him to open alongside Gill would mean changing the batting order, as he has been settled in the middle order for the last two to three years.
Pant has also opened the batting in shorter formats before, and like Rohit, he can play attacking shots during the powerplay.
Shubman Gill's captaincy record
Shubman Gill's leadership skills gained attention when he was made the captain of Gujarat Titans in the IPL last year. Later, he led a young Indian team in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, where India secured a 4-1 victory. Many senior players were rested for that tour as it took place right after India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean.
Gill’s journey towards becoming India’s next ODI captain became clearer when he was appointed vice-captain for the home series against England and the Champions Trophy. Rohit Sharma also praised Gill’s outstanding performance in ODI cricket, which helped him reach the No.1 ranking, as a key reason for his promotion in the leadership group.
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