The ODI India captain, Rohit Sharma, being abruptly dropped right before the important tour to Australia, has caused an earthquake in the Indian cricketing arena. Only a few months later, after leading Team India to the emphatic Champions Trophy win and still with an excellent track record in white-ball cricket, the sacking of Rohit has caused an uproar among the leading cricketing experts.
Here are the top 5 experts who strongly slammed the decision, questioning both the timing and rationale behind it.
Top Experts Blast Rohit Sharma’s Axing
1. Harbhajan Singh: “Rohit Deserved More Respect”
Harbhajan Singh, an experienced off-spinner and also a former teammate of Rohit Sharma, was in shock about the move. He declared that Rohit’s last few months as captain had been almost flawless; after all, India had just clinched the 2025 Champions Trophy under his leadership. Harbhajan insisted that if Rohit was being picked for the ODI squad, he should have continued as captain, especially after achieving such major success for the country.
He argued that removing Rohit now, when the 2027 ODI World Cup is so far away, simply doesn’t make sense from a cricketing viewpoint. He also added that this transition could have waited another year, stressing that Rohit’s ODI captaincy record was “exceptional” and deserved continuity.
2. Mohammed Kaif: “Selectors Acted in Haste: Why Remove a Winning Leader?”
Mohammed Kaif, whose analysis and close observations of Indian cricket are quite sharp, did not hesitate to ask when this change happened. In an emotional statement, Kaif said, “What wrong has Rohit Sharma done?” He lamented that Rohit didn’t even get four full years as ODI captain and blamed the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, for rushing Shubman Gill into the leadership role. Kaif believes Rohit earned the right to continue as captain at least until the 2027 World Cup, highlighting his tremendous contributions as both a player and skipper.
As Kaif claims, the selectors took away the right hand of Rohit, which was going to create an imbalance in the team, and this may have added pressure to Gill himself. His ardent plea appeals to a lot of those who think that Rohit could have been given a better send-off by his leadership.
3. Saba Karim: “Selection Panel Created Confusion and Uncertainty”
Saba Karim, a former Indian selector, was very critical of the selection committee which he stating that they were in a great hurry. He noted that retaining Rohit Sharma in the ODI team and dropping him as the team captain sends a confusing signal not only to the fans but also to the team itself.
Karim argued that if the selectors did not see Rohit as part of India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup, there was no justification for retaining him in the team for the October ODI series. He warned that such hurried decisions could create unnecessary uncertainty and unrest within the squad.
4. Sunil Gavaskar: “Be Ready for More Bad News After Rohit’s Axing”
Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary batting star of India, also raised his voice against the ousting of Rohit as the captain of the ODI team. Gavaskar took this to be the start of an alarming pattern among the old school of Indian cricket players. Warning fans and stakeholders to “be ready for more bad news,” he suggested that this abrupt call marked not just the end of an era, but possibly a period of further drastic changes in Indian cricket.
Gavaskar emphasized that it was unfair to sideline a captain with such a stellar track record and who remains one of the team’s mainstays in limited-overs cricket.
5. Gautam Gambhir: “Selectors Should Have Waited, Timing Was All Wrong”
Gautam Gambhir, former opener and current India coach, also weighed in with a critical opinion. Gambhir believed the timing of the decision was flawed and that India could have given Rohit at least another season to lead the team. He stressed that while Shubman Gill is indeed talented, pushing him into ODI captaincy right now, when Rohit is still performing, distracts from what was a working combination. Gambhir shared a genuine worry that such decisions based on projection for a single tournament (the 2027 ODI World Cup) neglect the current needs and rhythm of the squad.
Also Read: Are Certain Players Selected Only Because They Are Gautam Gambhir’s Favourites?
Conclusion
The decision to sack Rohit Sharma as ODI captain has definitely not gone down well with some of the biggest names in Indian cricket. Harbhajan Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Saba Karim, Sunil Gavaskar, and Gautam Gambhir all expressing such vehement opinions, there is no doubt that the way and when the selectors approached them could use a complete overhaul so that Indian cricket can continue to remain united, straight, and motivated in the next few events across the globe.
