A significant shift in Indian cricket is set to unfold with the upcoming ODI series against Australia, commencing on October 19. Shubman Gill will officially begin his tenure as India`s new ODI captain, marking a clear generational transition within the squad. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are both included, speculation is rife that this tour could signal the nearing end of their illustrious ODI careers. The Indian team departed for Australia on Wednesday, an occasion that saw Kohli and Rohit reunite with the national camp for the first time since the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Rohit Sharma Greets Shubman Gill
Before their departure, Rohit was seen greeting Gill, exclaiming, `Arre Gill! Kya haal hai, bhai (How are you, brother)!`
Both batting stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, had arrived in Delhi on Tuesday to join the Indian team. India`s tour schedule includes three One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals. The 50-over matches will kick off on Sunday, followed by the second and third ODIs on October 23 and 25 respectively. The five T20Is are scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 8.
Among the prominent players spotted at Delhi airport were captain Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Harshit Rana, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna.
The inaugural ODI at Perth`s Optus Stadium will witness the return of these seasoned players to the international arena for the first time since the Champions Trophy. India`s undefeated run in that tournament culminated with Rohit being named Player of the Match for his impressive 76 off 83 balls in the final, which marked the last appearance for the veteran duo in Indian colors.
Despite expectations of their return to Test cricket, both players announced their retirement from the format over a month before the England tour. Given their prior decision to step down from T20Is after India`s memorable T20 World Cup victory in Barbados, Rohit and Virat have now transitioned into single-format players, focusing solely on ODIs.
Rohit Sharma, though back in the ODI squad, will participate purely as a batter. Earlier this month, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that he had personally informed Rohit of the selectors` decision to conclude his captaincy reign and pass the leadership baton to Shubman Gill. This captaincy change is a critical strategic move as India looks ahead to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
