Former national selector Saba Karim has lashed out at the decision to remove the veteran batter Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain as well. On Saturday, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar named India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, starting October 19 in Perth as well. While Rohit Sharma was included in the squad, Shubman Gill was appointed as the new skipper as well.

Saba Karim said [via KADAK]: “I think this is a very abrupt decision and there was absolutely no need for it. He (Rohit Sharma) is a winning captain who has led you to back-to-back trophies, and you have bid him farewell in such a manner. This has been a very surprising and shocking decision for me. There was still time; it’s not as if there was any need to rush. The World Cup is in 2027, and he had already informed that he would play only one format. He has built this team so brilliantly, the team that won the Champions Trophy, the T20 title before that, and the way the team is currently performing in T20s, Rohit Sharma has had a massive role in building it.”

“It’s not like he suddenly forgot how to captain or that he doesn’t know how to lead in this format. Nor is it that he doesn’t know how to score runs in this format. He’s the one who, by opening the innings, showed everyone how to maintain the scoring rate and what approach to take on the field. So, in my opinion, his exit has been extremely shocking,” he shared.

However, Saba Karim also stated that he believes India should have separate captains for white-ball and red-ball cricket as well. However,
he also stated that Suryakumar Yadav might also be relieved of his T20I captaincy after the 2026 T20 World Cup.

He said, “I think there is some directive that India doesn’t want to have different captains for the three formats. I believe his end might also be written (Speaking about Surya’s potential removal as T20I captain), maybe after the World Cup. Because these dynamics, I feel, are something the team management and selectors find difficult to cope with. And this seems to be the selectors’ mindset that having multiple captains makes it tough for the players.”

“I don’t agree with that view. I believe there is still a need to have different captains for different formats, or at least separate captains for white-ball and red-ball cricket. There’s no extra work required for that because both white-ball and red-ball teams have different visions, approaches, and preparations,” Saba Karim concluded.