The landscape of Indian cricket continues to shift dramatically, with the post-Rohit Sharma era slowly taking shape. Transitions in leadership are never smooth, and the latest developments highlight the selectors’ dilemma of balancing workload with the need for stability. Just a day after Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee hinted at grooming Shubman Gill as an all-format leader—by naming him vice-captain of the Asia Cup-bound T20I squad—reports now suggest a different path for India’s ODI captaincy.
According to Dainik Jagran, the BCCI is seriously considering Shreyas Iyer as the long-term leader of the 50-over side, with the 2027 World Cup in mind. Interestingly, Iyer wasn’t picked in the Asia Cup T20 squad due to the 15-member restriction, but his name still resonates strongly in leadership discussions. His recent showing in the Champions Trophy earlier this year added significant weight to his credentials.
The 30-year-old middle-order batter was instrumental in India’s title run, amassing 243 runs across five games with crucial scores of 15, 56, 79, 45, and 48. More importantly, he has already built a solid ODI record—scoring 2845 runs in 70 matches at an impressive average of 48.22, including five centuries. These performances underline his consistency and reliability, both vital qualities for a prospective captain.
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However, the decision to elevate Iyer is closely tied to Rohit Sharma’s future. At 38, Rohit has already stepped away from T20s and Tests, along with Virat Kohli, sparking speculation that the upcoming ODI series against Australia could be their farewell to international cricket.
BCCI officials are expected to sit down with both stalwarts after the Asia Cup to discuss the roadmap, ensuring a smooth leadership transition. For now, Gill remains a key figure but won’t be burdened with the ODI captaincy. Despite serving as vice-captain in the past and enjoying a prolific record in the format, the selectors appear cautious about overextending him.
Good to see Shreyas Iyer is in Captaincy talks after Rohit in ODIs. I hope it’s not to distract the real topic of him not being in the T20I setup. He totally deserves a chance to show off his leadership skills. 🤞
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) August 21, 2025
Plans for Shreyas Iyer
Amid the raging debate over the exclusion of Shreyas from India’s recently announced T20I squad for the next month’s Asia Cup, a report claims that the BCCI has bigger plans for Iyer. He is being looked at as the captaincy successor to Rohit Sharma in ODIs— Jose Puliampatta (Prof. Bala) (@JosePuliampatta) August 21, 2025
Shubman Gill already shoulders immense responsibility—he led India in Tests against England, and now, under Suryakumar Yadav, he serves as T20 vice-captain for the Asia Cup. With a packed calendar ahead, his workload management has become a top priority.
The cricketing schedule paints a clear picture of why the selectors are avoiding an all-format captain. After the Asia Cup, Gill is set to lead India’s Test squad against the West Indies in early October. Soon after, the team will fly to Australia for five T20Is before returning for a full-fledged series against South Africa that includes two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is.
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Such relentless travel and high-pressure assignments make it virtually impossible for one player to captain across formats without risking burnout. In this context, Shreyas Iyer’s candidacy emerges as a pragmatic choice. His batting prowess, experience, and calm temperament could provide India with much-needed continuity in ODIs, while Gill continues to grow into his leadership role in Tests and T20Is.
