Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has urged Shubman Gill to put his weight behind Rohit Sharma for the ODI World Cup 2027. Kaif said Gill must come out in the press and give a statement that he wants Rohit for the World Cup.
Rohit recently scored a majestic knock of 138 runs off just 110 balls in the third ODI against England at Lord’s when there were question marks raised on his place in the team.
It was even reported that the Lord’s ODI would be the swansong of Rohit’s international career. However, Rohit went on to put paid to all the speculations.
“I think it will be a ‘wait and watch’ case. There is a lot of confusion, but that clarity has to come. Gill must come out in the press and give a statement that I want Rohit for the World Cup. A captain is always there when the team is made. Selectors may not know as much as players know about each other’s game. He will have to convince the coach and selectors and make such calls. Sehwag and Yuvraj were not scoring. Ganguly always used to stand by them and said that they would come back. Dhoni has backed players. Rohit has backed players himself. A captain has to stand by the players,” Mohammad Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.
The former UP batter said Gill’s respect in the dressing room will increase if he stands up to his players.
“By doing this, you will bring transparency within the team, and Gill’s respect as captain will also go up. He will gain the image that he is straightforward when things are going back and forth. Everybody is watching everything. You cannot hide, and you need to get this clarity. If no one else is giving this clarity, then the captain has to do this. This will only make the team better.”
The Natwest Trophy final hero said Gill must have a say in the team’s selection along with the management and selectors.
“I feel Gill has a lot of potential. He did well in the IPL too and captained well. But when it comes to the Indian team, he is still finding his feet. There is a lot of confusion. He also needs to come out and take on questions on his own and show that this is his team. I could not believe Kuldeep is not playing, and this is happening under Gill. He should not allow this. He has to intervene in the team selection. You played all pacers and dropped Kuldeep. I don’t know who took that call,” he said.
Gill will lead India in a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
