Shifting the Captaincy Guard: Gill Set to Succeed Sharma by 2027

Mohammad Kaif, a seasoned voice in cricket, anticipates that the 2027 ODI World Cup will mark the end of Rohit Sharma's tenure as India's one-day international captain. He predicts that Shubman Gill, whose ascent has been a captivating tale, will take over the reins. Gill was named India's Test captain after Sharma's last Test series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he led India to a thrilling 2-2 draw in England.

Gill's remarkable form with the bat, where he accumulated 754 runs, has seen him ascend to the role of vice-captain for the T20I squad under skipper Surakumar Yadav, as they gear up for the upcoming Asia Cup. Amidst Sharma's announcement of retiring from T20I and Test cricket, Kaif hailed Gill's IPL prowess and believes Gill will emerge as India's captain across all formats post-World Cup 2027.

Although absent from India's T20 World Cup team last year, Gill was named captain against Zimbabwe in a five-match series, signaling a strategic shift towards ODIs and Tests. Now, as vice-captain, Gill is set to make his return to T20I cricket, a decision explained by chief selector Ajit Agarkar as a reflection of Gill's leadership potential, especially following his stellar form in England.

(With inputs from agencies.)