Indian cricket might be heading toward a major leadership change. Rohit Sharma, who recently led India to the Champions Trophy title in March and the T20 World Cup title in the Caribbean in 2024, is reportedly nearing the end of his tenure as India’s captain—and possibly as a player.
Rohit is no longer an active cricketer in Tests or T20 Internationals (T20Is) and currently features only in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). As of now, he continues to lead the Indian team in this format. However, fresh reports suggest a big shake-up is being considered by the BCCI.
Shreyas Iyer – The Surprise Candidate to Lead India in ODIs
While many expected Shubman Gill to take over the ODI captaincy in the near future, the BCCI appears to have other plans. As per a report by Dainik Jagran, Shreyas Iyer has emerged as the frontrunner to lead India in ODIs, even though he was surprisingly not selected for the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to begin next month.
The report claims that the BCCI is seriously considering handing over the reins to Iyer, possibly starting from the upcoming ODI series against Australia in October. If that happens, it could signal the end of Rohit Sharma’s international career, especially if he’s phased out from the ODI setup altogether. The board is expected to hold discussions with Rohit about his future after the Asia Cup.
Why the BCCI May Choose Iyer Over Gill
Shubman Gill is already India’s Test captain and is being lined up to take over as T20I captain after the 2026 T20 World Cup. The selectors reportedly want to manage his workload carefully, which is why they are considering a separate captain for the ODI format.
In that context, Shreyas Iyer stands out. He has been in excellent form with the bat in ODIs, having scored 2,845 runs at an average of 48.22, and a strike rate of 100. He was one of only three Indian players to score over 500 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, and continued that form in the 2025 Champions Trophy, finishing as India’s top scorer with 243 runs in five innings.
In terms of leadership, Iyer has proven himself in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He captained Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the title in 2024 and led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the final in 2025, boosting his reputation as a dependable leader.
What’s Next?
With the Asia Cup around the corner and the Australia series to follow, a new chapter could soon begin for Indian cricket. Whether the BCCI officially announces Shreyas Iyer as India’s new ODI captain or continues with Rohit Sharma for a little longer will depend on the outcome of upcoming internal discussions.
But one thing is clear—change is coming.
