India has stepped into a new era of ODI cricket with Shubman Gill taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, and the 25-year-old has made his intentions clear: the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa is the ultimate goal. Following his successful stint as Test captain, Gill’s leadership journey now extends to the 50-over format, and for his first priority, he wants a proper buildup to the quadrennial tournament where India aims to reclaim a title that has eluded them since 2011.
October 4 marked the end of a long wait for Indian cricket fans as the BCCI announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against arch-rivals Australia. The biggest talking point, however, was Gill’s appointment as the new ODI skipper, despite Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being part of the squad. On the day he led India to a dominant innings-and-140-run win over West Indies in the first Test in Ahmedabad, Gill spoke about the pride he feels in being entrusted with the captaincy and outlined his vision for the side.
“It’s the biggest honour to lead your country in ODIs, to captain a side that has achieved so much. It gives me immense pride, and I hope I’ll be able to do well,” Gill told BCCI media.
The selectors’ bold move underscores India’s long-term vision for the 2027 ODI World Cup, though it has sparked debate among fans, many of whom feel Rohit Sharma deserved a more fitting farewell.
IND vs AUS, squad announcement: Highlights
Rohit Sharma, fresh off leading India to a Champions Trophy victory, will be 40 by the 2027 World Cup in October–November, while Virat Kohli will be 38. Despite their experience and leadership pedigree, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has chosen to prepare a successor, focusing on long-term stability for the team. With Suryakumar Yadav already at the helm in T20Is, the panel also signaled concerns about having too many leaders in the dressing room, which could complicate team dynamics.
Shubman Gill now leads India in both Tests and ODIs while serving as T20I vice-captain, a step that hints at his potential to become the country’s all-format captain in the near future.
“I think we have about 20 ODIs before the World Cup, and obviously, the biggest goal is the World Cup in South Africa. Everything we play, and every player in the squad, will give their best. We’ll try our best to have a great season before the World Cup and hopefully win it,” he added.
With Gill at the helm, India is not just planning for the next series but for a sustained campaign that aims to peak in 2027, combining the experience of veterans like Rohit and Kohli with the youthful energy of the new generation. The 2027 World Cup is now firmly on the team.
India vs Australia ODI series: Full squad
India ODI squad for Australia tour: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Ends