Rohit Sharma replaces Virat Kohli as Team India's captain in ODIs

Opening batter Rohit Sharma will take over from predecessor Virat Kohli as Team India’s skipper in One-day Internationals, the BCCI announced on Wednesday. His first assignment as captain will start with the three-ODI series against South Africa in January 2022. Furthermore, the Mumbai Indians skipper was appointed as vice-captain in Tests, thereby replacing senior batsman Ajinkya Rahane. Rohit will also continue being the T20 skipper after being appointed as captain of the T20I team last month, ahead of the home series against New Zealand. With Rohit assuming the top job in ODIs, it brings the curtains down on Kohli’s era as captain in limited-overs cricket. Notably, the Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman had stepped down from India’s T20I captaincy at the end of the recently-concluded T20 World Cup. 

The surprising but expected announcement comes on the same day that the board announced India’s squad for the three-Test series against South Africa beginning on December 26 in Centurion. “The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward,” BCCI’s tweet stated. After Virat Kohli announced his decision to step down as the T20 captain, Rohit Sharma was expected to replace him in the shortest format of the game. His success with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League made it an easy choice for the selectors.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward.#TeamIndia | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/hcg92sPtCa

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2021

A look at the present and former captain

However, many fans were of the belief that Rohit Sharma will eventually assume the role as the ODI skipper at some point in the near future. While the latest development may have surprised some, it cannot be denied that it was foreseen. Rohit has less than a year until the T20 World Cup in Australia, followed by the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023. He has also led the Men in Blue in 10 ODIs, out of which the team won eight. Last month, Rohit captained the team in the T20I series against New Zealand, in which the hosts won 3-0. 

Kohli took over as India’s full-time captain in 2017 when the legendary wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni decided to step down. He will go down as the Men in Blue’s most successful ODI captain with a win percentage of 70.43. Virat led India in 95 games – winning 65 and losing 27. Despite possessing one of the strongest squads in world cricket, Kohli’s stint as captain will, however, end without an ICC trophy. The closest India came was in 2017 when they reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy before shockingly losing to Pakistan.

Squad: Virat Kohli (Capt),Rohit Sharma(vc), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant(wk), Wriddhiman Saha(wk), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Md. Siraj. pic.twitter.com/6xSEwn9Rxb

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2021

India’s Test squad for South Africa tour announced

The 18-member squad for the Test matches in South Africa will be led by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be the vice-captain. The Test series will form a part of the new cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Despite question marks lingering over his recent batting performances, Ajinkya Rahane has been included in the squad. After missing the home series against New Zealand due to injury, KL Rahul is back. Besides, wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, pacers Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah are also in the squad.

On the back of his impressive outings during the India A Tour against South Africa A, Hanuma Vihari, who was not part of the recent New Zealand series, has been recalled. “The following players were not available for selection due to injuries and are currently undergoing rehabilitation: Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Rahul Chahar,” BCCI said in a release. 

India’s Test squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Md. Siraj.

Standby Players: Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Arzan Nagwaswalla.