A strategic shift orchestrated by head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar appears to be reshaping the landscape of Indian cricket, potentially sidelining veteran Rohit Sharma from the 2027 World Cup plans. While both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been named in the ODI squad for the matches against Australia, their long-term future remains uncertain.
The new management, reportedly backed by influential figures within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is implementing what some are calling an "Aussie-style revolution," prioritizing team building and a smooth transition to a younger generation. This approach, characterized as a "GA-AG order" by one former BCCI official, emphasizes building a cohesive unit over relying solely on individual star power.
A key element of this strategy involves grooming Shubman Gill as an all-format captain, positioning him as a long-term role model for Indian cricket. Gill has already taken over the ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma ahead of the Australia tour. There is also the possibility of Gill taking over as T20I skipper after the T20 World Cup in India, irrespective of the result of the competition. This decision is influenced by the belief that a single, dynamic leader across all formats can provide stability and vision for the next decade.
For Rohit Sharma, the implications of this shift are significant. The Gambhir-Agarkar duo reportedly doubts his ability to maintain peak ODI form by playing sporadically in international matches alongside the IPL. Consequently, his international career might be nearing its end.
Virat Kohli's situation is slightly more nuanced. While acknowledged as one of the fittest cricketers, he faces similar challenges regarding sustained form and the selectors believe that he still might have an "outside chance" to make it to the World Cup 2027. Agarkar, while announcing the squad for the Australia series, refrained from commenting on the long-term future of Kohli and Sharma, stating that he has "no knowledge" if the Australia tour would be their last in India colors. He did however add that the selection committee expects the duo to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's domestic 50-over competition.
Agarkar's response to queries regarding Rohit and Kohli's availability for the 2027 World Cup has fueled speculation about their future. While both players have maintained silence on the matter, Agarkar has stated, "Both Rohit and Virat are non-committal about the World Cup (2027). Is that an indication about something brewing?".
The selection committee believes that there is no measure of how one-format white ball players have performed going forward. When asked about the 2027 World Cup, Agarkar said, "You have got to sometimes look at what is coming forward, where you stand as a team and eventually look at what is in the best interest of the team, whether it is now or maybe six months later, those are the calls that I suppose we have to make to put (things) in place".
The India vs Australia ODI series is scheduled to start on October 19. Both Rohit and Kohli are part of the squad as players. This series marks their return to international cricket since the Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.
