Rohit Sharma Archives

Shubman Gill replaces Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI skipper

MUMBAI: The dawn of a new era in Indian cricket has arrived with Test skipper Shubman Gill stepping into Rohit Sharma’s shoes as leader of the One Day Internationals (ODI) side following India’s squad announcement for the Australia tour.

More to follow…

The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) on Saturday announced the 15-member squad for the three-match series against Australia, which is set to begin on October 19.

The squad includes veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will be representing India for the first time since their Champions Trophy triumph in 2025.

The reason behind the captaincy change, it is learned, was that the selectors wanted Gill to settle down well before the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

In total, Rohit Sharma led India in 56 ODIs and boasted an excellent record, with 42 wins, 11 losses, one match ending in a tie, and one with no result. The right-handed batter was also instrumental in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy win.

Apart from the Champions Trophy, India won the 2018 and 2023 Asia Cups under his captaincy, whereas the Men in Blue also reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

While Shubman Gill, who was tipped as the next leader, has now held in India’s all formats. He took over Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma’s retirement ahead of the England tour. He is also India’s vice-captain in T20Is.

For context, after the three-match series against Australia will be followed by a T20I series comprised of five matches.

Indian ODI squad for Australia tour

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.

India’s T20I squad

Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.

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UAE captain Muhammad Waseem shatters Rohit Sharma’s T20I record

SHARJAH: UAE captain Muhammad Waseem on Monday achieved a major milestone, breaking India’s ace batter Rohit Sharma’s record for most sixes as captain during his side’s tri-series fixture against Afghanistan.

Waseem, who made 67 off 37 balls, smashed six maximums and four boundaries in his powerful knock.

The right-handed batter surpassed Sharma after hitting Mujeeb-ur-Rahman for two sixes in the third over of the UAE innings. He achieved this feat in 54 innings, compared to Sharma’s 62.

Most sixes as captain in T20Is

110* – Muhammad Waseem (UAE)
105 – Rohit Sharma (IND)
86 – Eoin Morgan (ENG)
82 – Aaron Finch (AUS)
79 – Kadowaki Fleming (JPN)
69 – Jos Buttler (ENG)

Muhammad Waseem’s powerful knock saw him surpass former New Zealand batter Martin Guptill, placing him second to Rohit Sharma in the all-time six-hitting records in T20Is

Most sixes in T20Is

Rohit Sharma (IND) – 159 matches, 205 sixes

Muhammad Waseem (UAE) – 80 matches, 176 sixes

Martin Guptill (NZ) – 122 matches, 173 sixes

Jos Buttler (ENG) – 137 matches, 160 sixes

In pursuit of the 189-run target, UAE could only muster 150 runs for 8 in their allocated 20 overs. Despite Waseem’s top scoring, his side endured a 38-run defeat in the T20I tri-series.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, Afghanistan posted 188 for 4 in their 20 overs, thanks to Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran’s half-centuries.

Sediqullah Atal made 54 off 30 balls with Ibrahim Zadran scoring 63 off 40, with the aid of four maximums and three fours.

Afghanistan will face Pakistan tomorrow at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium

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Rohit Sharma clears Bronco Test ahead of Australia ODIs: reports

India ODI captain Rohit Sharma has successfully cleared the newly introduced fitness assessment, the Bronco Test, delivering an impressive performance, according to reports in Indian media on Monday.

The Bronco Test, a rugby-inspired drill involving continuous shuttle runs of 20, 40, and 60 metres, was recently added to the Indian team’s fitness protocols by strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux.

It now stands alongside the Yo-Yo test, which has long been the benchmark for evaluating player fitness.

Sharma, 38, underwent the assessment at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where players were tested on August 30 and 31.

Reports suggest all participants cleared both the Bronco and Yo-Yo tests, with Sharma’s physical conditioning drawing particular praise.

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Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna also stood out with substantial numbers in the new drill.

According to reports, Rohit Sharma is likely to feature in India’s upcoming ODI series against Australia, scheduled for October 19, 23, and 25.

The veteran batter, who stepped away from T20Is after leading India to the T20 World Cup title in June 2024 and retired from Tests in May this year, has made it clear he intends to continue in ODIs with an eye on the 2027 World Cup.

With 11,168 runs in 273 matches at an average of 48.76 and a strike rate of 92.80, including 32 centuries and 58 fifties, Rohit remains one of the format’s most formidable batters.

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Former India batter claims Bronco Test introduced to sideline Rohit Sharma

Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has voiced concerns that the recently introduced Bronco Test could be a tactical move to edge ODI skipper Rohit Sharma out of the 50-over side.

The Bronco Test, a rugby-inspired fitness drill involving repeated shuttle runs of 20, 40, and 60 metres, has been added to the Indian team’s fitness protocols under strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux.

It is now in place alongside the Yo-Yo test, long regarded as the benchmark for player fitness.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, who retired from Tests and T20Is earlier this year, has made it clear that he intends to continue in ODIs with an eye on the 2027 World Cup.

However, reports indicate that the Indian team management is keen on fast-tracking Shubman Gill as a long-term captain in the format.

Speaking to an Indian media outlet, Manoj Tiwary suggested that while Virat Kohli, who has also stepped away from Tests and T20Is, is likely to remain central to ODI plans until 2027, Rohit may face a different challenge.

“I think it will be very difficult to keep Virat Kohli out of the 2027 World Cup plans. But I doubt whether Rohit Sharma will be looked at in the same way,” Tiwary remarked.

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He went on to claim that the timing of the Bronco Test’s introduction raises questions.

“I’m a very keen observer of what’s going on in Indian cricket. I believe this test was brought in with players like Rohit Sharma in mind,” he added.

“Someone, perhaps, doesn’t want him in the future scheme of things. That’s why it has been introduced now. Why not earlier, when the new coach started his tenure? Who brought it in, and why now?”

The former cricketer added that while the test aims to raise fitness standards, it could also act as a filter to push out senior names, drawing parallels with the Yo-Yo test, which became mandatory soon after India’s 2011 World Cup win.

Despite the speculation, Rohit’s ODI numbers remain formidable. In 273 matches, he has amassed 11,168 runs at an average of 48.76 and a strike rate of 92.80, including 32 centuries and 58 fifties.

He also holds the record for the highest individual score in ODIs, which was a breathtaking knock of 264.

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Rohit Sharma opens up on his sudden retirement from Test cricket

Former India captain Rohit Sharma has admitted that the mental demands of Test cricket played a major role in his decision to step away from the format earlier this year.

Rohit had announced his retirement from Tests with immediate effect in May, shortly after reports surfaced suggesting he had been removed as India’s Test captain.

While reports indicated he would retain his spot as an opener for the upcoming England tour, Sharma opted to bring the curtain down on his red-ball career.

During a local event in Mumbai on Tuesday, the 38-year-old revealed that the five-day grind of red-ball cricket had become increasingly taxing.

“Test cricket demands longevity. You’ve got to last five days. Mentally, it’s very challenging and draining as well,” Rohit Sharma said.

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Reflecting on his journey, the veteran batter credited Mumbai’s cricket culture for shaping his resilience in the longest format.

“In Mumbai, even club matches go on for two or three days. We are brought up that way. It trains you from a young age to deal with long-form cricket and to respond to tough situations,” he explained.

The right-hander represented India in 59 Tests, scoring 4301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries.

He also captained the side to the World Test Championship (WTC) final but endured a difficult run in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia last year, managing only 31 runs in five innings.

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‘Virat, Rohit’s intensity will be missed’: Former cricketer on India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash

Former Pakistan cricketer Bazid Khan has highlighted the challenges faced by the India team ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, particularly the absences of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the lineup.

Speaking during a show on a sports channel, Bazid Khan talked about the India-Pakistan clash in the upcoming event.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from the shorter format of the game after India’s triumph in the 2024 World Cup.

Bazid mentioned the retired duo and their set standards for the India team ahead of the event.

“All these players are high-class,” he said.

“There isn’t anyone here you would say is not of that calibre. But the high intensity that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma brought to the game, that is something India will surely miss,” added Bazid.

He further mentioned the India captain, Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles against Pakistan, stating that his performance against the arch-rivals remains a core issue.

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“Suryakumar scores runs against almost everyone, but somehow against Pakistan, he hasn’t been effective. Whether it is the pace attack or some other reason, it remains an issue,” Bazid Khan remarked.

Notably, Suryakumar Yadav will be leading Team India for the first time in a major event.

With India facing Pakistan on September 14, Yadav’s performance will be under scrutiny. This will be due to the dynamic batter’s struggle against Pakistan, as the 34-year-old is yet to make a mark against them.

Overall, Yadav has an average of 38.20 with an excellent strike rate of 167.07 in 83 T20Is. On the contrary, in five T20I innings against Pakistan, he has scored just 64 runs at a modest average of 12.80 with a strike rate of 118.51.

The Asia Cup 2025 is set to commence on September 9 with the opening match between Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

India’s squad for Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson.

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Rohit Sharma replaces Babar Azam in ICC ODI rankings

DUBAI: Star Indian batter Rohit Sharma has overtaken the second spot from Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam in the latest ICC rankings revealed on Wednesday.

Babar, who returned with the scores of 47, 0, and 9, suffered a decline and slipped to third with 751 rating points.

Rohit Sharma has taken the position of Babar Azam, with Shubman Gill continuing to hold the number one spot in the rankings.

Besides Babar Azam, several other Pakistani players also faced demotion in their ranking spots following a 2-1 series loss against the West Indies.

Notably, Saim Ayub suffered the most significant drop among Pakistan’s batters, falling nine places to 46th spot.

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Pakistan’s ODI captain, Mohammad Rizwan, dropped one place, hence moving to 22nd position.

Fakhar Zaman, who was not part of the 50-over series due to an injury, dropped four places to 27th position. The overlooked opener Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha also saw a decline in their rankings, with both now placed at 37th and 41st, respectively.

In the ICC bowlers’ rankings, West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales jumped 24 places to take the 33rd spot. The right-arm pacer gained in rankings on the back of a stellar performance against Pakistan.

Seales picked up 10 wickets in the series, including a devastating six-wicket haul that ended the 34-year wait for the West Indies to win an ODI series against Pakistan.

Shaheen Afridi, who played two matches in the series, dropped one place to 13th with 599 points after managing to take four wickets.

Spinner Abrar Ahmed moved up three places to 54th, while Mohammad Nawaz maintained his 64th position, and Mohammad Wasim Jr dropped four places to 71st.

There were no changes in the top 10 as Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana continues to sit at the top position in the ICC bowlers rankings.

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BCCI’s roadmap for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s future revealed: reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in no hurry to make a decision on the ODI future of veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Indian media reported on Tuesday.

According to reports, the board’s immediate focus remains on the shortest format, with a decision on the two stalwarts expected only after the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Kohli and Rohit last turned out for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where both played crucial roles in the title-winning campaign.

Kohli scored 218 runs in five innings at an average of 54.50, while Rohit added 180 runs, providing vital starts. India defeated New Zealand in the final to lift the trophy.

With Virat Kohli now 36 and Rohit Sharma 38, the debate around transitioning to younger players ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 has gathered momentum.

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Earlier, reports suggested that both players would retire from ODIs later this year, following their exits from Test and T20I cricket, with the home ODI series against Australia in October 2025 set to be their farewell.

However, those claims have now been dismissed in light of the BCCI’s latest stance.

Reports also indicate that the board does not currently see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as part of the core plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

According to reports, to remain in contention beyond the Australia series, they may be required to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic one-day competition, starting in December 2025.

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Sourav Ganguly comments on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma retirement speculation

Former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has downplayed reports suggesting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could retire from ODI cricket after the three-match series against Australia in October.

The star duo retired from T20I cricket after leading India to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Earlier this year, they also retired from Test cricket.

They have continued to excel in ODI cricket, leading India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

However, recent reports from Indian media suggest that the upcoming ODI series against Australia may be their final appearances in this format.

The BCCI is reportedly not considering the duo for their plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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Sourav Ganguly, while speaking at an event in Ahmedabad on Sunday, said he was unaware of any such plans and insisted that performance should remain the only criterion for selection.

“I’m not aware of this, can’t comment on this. Whoever does well will play. If they do well, they should continue,” Ganguly said.

The former India captain praised both players for their contributions to the national side, highlighting their key roles in this year’s Champions Trophy triumph.

“Kohli’s one-day record is phenomenal, even Rohit Sharma’s. Both of them are phenomenal in white-ball cricket,” he added.

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Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to retire from ODIs after Australia series: reports

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked ace Indian duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to call time on their One Day International (ODI) careers, according to an Indian news.

The talismanic duo who have already hung up their boots in the Tests and T20Is are not in the plans of the cricket board for the 2027 ICC World Cup.

According to the report, the BCCI is aiming to include a few youngsters and give them ample time before the marquee event, set to be held in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Consequently, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will likely have to end their careers sooner or later, as per the board’s plans.

Furthermore, the report notes that if Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are keen to feature in the 2027 World Cup, they must participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Vijay Hazare Trophy is India’s premier domestic 50-over competition, which will commence from 24 December.

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For the unversed, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were pivotal in India’s recent triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy. Kohli made 218 runs from five matches at an excellent average of 54.50.

The batting maestro also hit a classic unbeaten hundred against arch-rivals Pakistan, whereas Sharma scored 180 runs in the same number of matches, including a crucial knock of 76 runs in the final against New Zealand.

India is set to play three ODIs against Australia, set to commence on October 19. They will also tour South Africa at the end of this year to play the same number of 50-over cricket matches.

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