Mohammad Kaif says Shubman Gill must be feeling the guilt inside while leading Rohit Sharma in ODIs

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif said Shubman Gill must be feeling the guilt inside while leading veteran batter and a proven leader like Rohit Sharma in ODIs. Kaif said Gill must be feeling a bit weird knowing Rohit had done nothing wrong as India’s ODI captain.

Sharma was removed from ODI captaincy despite leading India to Champions Trophy glory. Under Rohit’s leadership, India also won the 2024 T20 World Cup and made it to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said it was difficult to have three different captains for three different formats and they have decided to hand over the captaincy baton to Shubman Gill while keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.

Sharma captained India in 56 ODIs, out of which the team won 42 matches, lost 12, tied one, and had one no-result.

Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “It takes time for any new captain, now, for Gill, he has Rohit Sharma, a proven leader, playing under him. Gill also knows that Rohit Sharma has not done anything wrong as a captain. He was removed from captaincy. When Gill goes to sleep in his hotel room, he must be thinking that Rohit bhai has not done anything wrong. He must be feeling the guilt inside, that people are backing me, but think about Rohit bhai, he did so well and won trophies, but even after that, he was removed, and I was named captain.”

“So, considering everything fatigue, travel, playing so many matches on the trot, and having the task of captaining Rohit and Kohli, it will take time. This is a transition phase for Gill as ODI captain. Whenever he leads Rohit and Kohli, he will feel nervous. So this is a time where the runs are not coming from the bat, and we lost a bilateral ODI series, I don’t even remember when we lost a bilateral series. So, all of this has happened under his captaincy, and this had to happen.”

Gill hasn’t had a great start to his ODI captaincy stint as India has lost the first two matches against Australia. 

The third and final ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.