Ganguly Backs BCCI Move to Hand ODI Captaincy to Gill, Calls It ‘Fair Call’

Sourav Ganguly has thrown his weight behind the BCCI's bold move to strip Rohit Sharma of the ODI captaincy and hand the reins to rising star Shubman Gill. Speaking on Thursday after being named the national brand ambassador for Annapurna Snacks, the former India skipper dismissed any notion of a dramatic "sacking," insisting the transition was a mutual, forward-thinking decision aimed at the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.

Rohit, fresh off captaining India to back-to-back ICC triumphs—the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy earlier this year—has been a towering figure in white-ball cricket. Yet, at 37, selectors led by Ajit Agarkar, in consultation with head coach Gautam Gambhir, opted for generational change. "Performance is not the issue with Rohit Sharma. In 2027, he will be 40. That's a big number in sport," Ganguly remarked bluntly. "It happened to me, it happened to Rahul Dravid... It happens to everyone. Even Shubman Gill will face the same at 40, even if he scores 12,000-13,000 runs."

Ganguly emphasized that the shift wasn't punitive but strategic, allowing Rohit to focus on batting while grooming a successor. "I am sure Rohit must have been spoken to. So, I don't know whether it is 'sacking' or anything. I am sure it is a mutual discussion because Rohit has been an outstanding leader," he said. "Rohit can keep playing, and in the meantime, you keep grooming a young captain. So, I really don't see a problem in that. It's a fair call and not the worst decision."

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The timing couldn't be more poignant, with Gill set to make his ODI captaincy debut in the three-match series against Australia starting October 19 in Perth, followed by a five-match T20I showdown from October 29. Both Rohit and Virat Kohli, who have retired from T20Is and Tests, are making a much-anticipated return to ODIs after skipping the recent Sri Lanka series. Kohli, at 36, faces similar scrutiny as the duo eyes the 2027 showpiece, where he'll turn 38.

On their longevity, Ganguly was pragmatic: age and form will dictate, but domestic cricket is non-negotiable. "Yes, 40 is a lot of age. It depends on how fit they stay, how much cricket they play, and how many runs they score. It is not easy to play just one format—IPL is only two months a year," he advised. "They have to play domestic cricket. That's what it is. If they keep at it and performing, they will play for India. You have to keep playing—otherwise, you lose the touch and the form."

Ganguly reserved glowing praise for Gill, the 26-year-old prodigy who dazzled in his maiden Test captaincy stint earlier this summer. Leading India to a gritty 2-2 draw in a five-match series against England, Gill smashed 754 runs—including four centuries—eclipsing Graham Gooch's long-standing record of 752 from 1990 and even Surpassing Sunil Gavaskar's 732 as captain against West Indies in 1978-79. "It's too early, but for the tour of England, I thought he was brilliant," Ganguly gushed. "The way he has played and 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."

Gill, now helming two formats (Tests and ODIs) and serving as T20I vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav, has been on an upward trajectory since starring in India's 2025 Champions Trophy campaign. With Shreyas Iyer as his deputy—a nod to Iyer's IPL leadership prowess—the young gun faces a stern test Down Under against a resurgent Australia side.

As India eyes another white-ball renaissance, Ganguly's words serve as a sobering reminder: even legends like Federer, Sampras, Nadal, and Maradona bow out eventually. For Rohit and Kohli, the road ahead is about legacy preservation through sustained excellence. For Gill, it's about seizing the throne. The Australia tour promises fireworks—both on and off the field.

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