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Shreyas Iyer Set to Replace Rohit Sharma as India’s New ODI Captain; BCCI Rules Out Shubman Gill
A landmark leadership inflection point in Indian cricket loomed as the BCCI approached naming middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer the new captain of the Indian ODI side. This option also virtually discarded Shubman Gill, the Test skipper, from consideration.
Captaincy-Geared Edge Goes to Iyer
Several credible reports claim Iyer has moved to the forefront in the race to replace the iconic skipper Rohit Sharma. Firstpost speaks of him as a ‘frontrunner’ for the ODI captaincy after the BCCI shelved plans to install Gil in the role.
Mirroring this sentiment, Mid-Day places notable emphasis on Iyer's consistency, with the Champions Trophy campaign serving as a high point amongst others, for the switching of the guards.
NDTV informed that while the decision has not been made yet, Iyer is the shortlisted name under consideration for the long-term ODI captaincy. An official press release is likely after the conclusion of the Asia Cup.
Gill's Load Management and the Strategic Shift by BCCI
BCCI is consciously managing Gill's workload. Gill, who is currently a Bombshell in Tests for India and vice-captain in limited formats, has been ruled out of the leadership race for the ODIs.
It was the workload concerns that were cited as the reason to keep Shubman Gill out of the ODI captaincy conversation. This fits with a wider ‘split captaincy model’ that the BCCI is allegedly keen on; this sees different people appointed captain for different formats so that no captain faces burnout.
When Could the Announcement Come?
Fans of Indian cricket may look forward to hearing the official announcement soon after the conclusion of the Asia Cup, which happened between September 9 and 28 in the UAE. After that, selection committees are expected to hand the official ODI captaincy to Iyer, thereby relieving Rohit of captaincy responsibilities before what could be the final few years of his international career.
Context: Asia Cup Squad Omission Raises Eyebrows
Interestingly, the absence of Shreyas Iyer in the 15-member India squad for the Asia Cup declared on 19 August, shocked many, considering his constructive form. Shubman Gill was instead named vice-captain to Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy.
Later, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said, "It's not Shreyas's fault; it was simply down to squad composition," and the fans speculated whether internal dynamics or workload management might have contributed to the problem.
Final Thoughts
If Iyer is made the ODI captain, it would further tilt towards experience-based leadership in the white-ball format. At 30, with a pleasant aura of calm, the brains to go with it, and stronger recent innings, Iyer does present quite an allure.
Post-Asia Cup, as Selects put their plans in order, it would be an interesting time for fans hungry for straight transitions and leadership.