Indian cricket entered a new chapter as Shubman Gill, the newly appointed ODI captain, met former skipper Rohit Sharma for the first time since the captaincy transition, ahead of the team’s departure for a white-ball tour of Australia. The heartwarming moment, captured by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), saw Rohit greeting Gill with a cheerful, “Arre Gill! Kya haal hai, bhai?” (How are you, brother?) and a warm hug, signaling a smooth handover despite speculation about the veteran’s future. The Indian squad, including batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, left for Australia on Wednesday for a three-match ODI series starting October 19, followed by five T20Is.
The meeting took place in Delhi, where the team assembled before boarding their flight. Gill, 26, who replaced Rohit as ODI captain on October 4, also shared warm handshakes with Kohli and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, reinforcing team unity. The BCCI’s video of the interaction went viral, with fans lauding the camaraderie between the young leader and his predecessors.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained the captaincy shift as a strategic move to prepare Gill for the 2027 ODI World Cup, citing the limited ODI fixtures available for grooming a new leader. Rohit, 38, who led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy titles, will continue as a batter, bringing his experience to a squad featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Arshdeep Singh, among others.
The Australia tour marks the return of Rohit and Kohli to international cricket after a six-month hiatus since the Champions Trophy, where Rohit earned Player of the Match honors in the final for his 76 off 83 balls. Both have retired from Test and T20I formats, making ODIs their sole international arena.
Speculation about their retirement has intensified, with some reports suggesting this series could be their last, though BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla dismissed such claims, emphasizing that retirement decisions rest with the players. Coach Gautam Gambhir stressed the value of their experience in Australian conditions, urging focus on the present rather than the 2027 World Cup.
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Gill, already India’s Test captain, expressed his ambition to “win everything” in the coming months, acknowledging Rohit’s legacy while embracing his new role. The series, starting at Perth’s Optus Stadium, followed by matches in Adelaide and Sydney, is a critical test for Gill’s leadership and India’s transition. As fans celebrated the squad’s unity on social media, with posts praising Rohit’s grace and Gill’s promise, Indian cricket appears poised for a seamless blend of youth and experience in this high-stakes tour.
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