The Board for Control of Cricket in India’s (BCCI) recent call, led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, to replace Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain has sent ripples through the cricketing world. What should have been a moment of reflection and respect has instead turned into a debate over dignity and timing.
After 17 years of unwavering service, thousands of runs, and the pride of leading India to multiple ICC triumphs, Rohit’s quiet exit from ODI captaincy feels less like a transition and more like an eviction. A man who carried the nation’s hopes through highs and heartbreaks was seemingly informed, not honoured.
For a player who redefined white-ball batting and revived the Indian team’s spirit post-MS Dhoni’s era, the farewell — or lack of one — cuts deep. Rohit had often spoken about his dream to lead India into the 2027 World Cup, a dream that now dissolves not on the pitch, but in the boardroom.
Yes, youth must be groomed. Yes, the future beckons. But could the future not have waited for the past to be saluted properly? Had Rohit himself announced his decision to step aside, the story would have carried grace. Instead, it now reads as a cold headline of convenience.
Former cricketers like Mohammad Kaif have voiced what millions feel — that Rohit’s contributions merited more than a sudden switch. The BCCI’s explanation — that the move is strategic and forward-looking — may make cricketing sense, but emotionally, it rings hollow.
Even Sunil Gavaskar defended the selectors’ reasoning, citing age, workload and long-term planning. Yet, no statistic can measure loyalty, or the price of respect owed to a man who rebuilt India’s white-ball empire from the ruins of transition.
Through it all, Rohit remains his composed self — no outburst, no bitterness, only silence. The kind that says more than words ever could.
As the Indian team looks ahead to Australia and beyond, fans are left to wonder — is this how Indian cricket now treats its heroes? After 17 years of unmatched dedication, the question lingers in every fan’s heart: was this truly the farewell Rohit Sharma deserved?
Also read: Gill replaces Rohit as ODI captain as transition comes into force
Follow us
