Rohit Sharma has spoken about his role within the Indian ODI squad, making clear that he sees himself as a support figure for captain Shubman Gill. Rohit’s comments came ahead of India’s second ODI against West Indies on October 1, 2026, with Gill having led the side for approximately one year since his appointment.
Shubman Gill was appointed India’s ODI captain on October 4, 2025, replacing Rohit Sharma in the role. Gill had already been named Test captain on May 24, 2025, following Rohit’s retirement from Test cricket in May 2025. The selectors had expressed a clear intent to give Gill time to settle into the captaincy role ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Rohit remains part of India’s ODI squad, and he was direct about what his presence means for the team.
“Shubman Gill is the captain, but that does not mean I stay away from him or talk less with him. Ever since he made his debut, we have been moving in the same direction. That is how it should be, and it should not change for any reason. He needs the confidence of the team, knowing that everyone is moving together. My job is to support him and take the team forward,” Rohit said via JioStar.
What has Rohit Sharma said about Gill’s captaincy qualities?
Rohit has been candid in his assessment of Gill as a leader, pointing to clarity of thought as the quality that stands out most. He acknowledged that judging a captain after just one year is premature, while also noting that what he has observed has been encouraging.
“Shubman Gill has a great cricketing brain, no doubt about that. He has been captaining for about a year now, so it is unfair to judge him as a captain so early. But from what I have seen, he has been impressive. He is very clear about what he wants. That is the most important thing a captain should have,” Rohit added about the Fazilka-born.
“If the captain is clear, the players around him will also be clear. That is what I see with Shubman. He knows what he wants and is moving in the right direction. Of course, any captain needs the support of the players and the staff around him. I am sure that in whatever way I can help him, I will do that,” the Nagpur-born concluded.
How has Gill performed since taking over as India’s captain?
Gill’s record since assuming leadership across formats has given the selectors reason to back their decision. As Test captain, he led India to a 2-2 draw in England and finished as the highest run-scorer in that series with 754 runs.
The selectors had specifically cited the 2027 ODI World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, as the long-term target when handing Gill the ODI captaincy in October 2025. With Rohit continuing to play under him in the ODI format and publicly backing his leadership, Gill heads into the third and final ODI of the ongoing series against the West Indies on Saturday, October 03, with the support of one of India’s most experienced players behind him.
