Rohit Sharma: Team India is eagerly anticipating the upcoming home series against England. The two sides are set to compete in a five-match T20 series starting January 22, followed by a three-match ODI series commencing February 6.
Who will lead if Rohit not available?
Reports indicate that Rohit Sharma may be rested for the ODI series as a precaution ahead of the Champions Trophy. This raises the significant question of who will lead the ODI team in his absence. The ICC has established January 12 as the deadline for announcing the Champions Trophy squad, which could prompt the BCCI to reveal the team alongside the England series announcement. While Rohit is expected to participate in the Champions Trophy, his involvement in the ODI series against England remains uncertain.
These cricketers can be contenders to lead the team
Shubman Gill emerges as a strong candidate for the captaincy, especially since Jasprit Bumrah is also likely to be rested. Shubman previously captained the T20 team during the Zimbabwe tour following the T20 World Cup 2024 and was later appointed vice-captain for both the T20 and ODI teams during the Sri Lanka tour. Typically, the vice-captain assumes leadership when the captain is absent, positioning Gill as a frontrunner for the ODI captaincy against England. His elevation to vice-captaincy occurred after Gautam Gambhir took on the coaching role.
In addition to Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya is another prominent candidate for the captaincy. With the Champions Trophy in mind, it is anticipated that he will return to ODIs during the England series, potentially placing him in contention for the captaincy as well. KL Rahul is also considered a possible candidate, but he appears to be trailing behind Gill and Pandya in the race for leadership.