Mohammed Shami Defends BCCI Over Removal of Rohit Sharma From ODI Captaincy

Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has supported the BCCI’s decision to hand Shubman Gill the ODI captaincy, replacing Rohit Sharma. The board and selectors are looking ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup and want to prepare the team for the future.

Shubman Gill, who already leads India in Tests and the Gujarat Titans in IPL, is now in charge of the 50-over format. When Rohit last captained India in ODIs, the team won the 2025 Champions Trophy, with Rohit earning the Player of the Match in the final against New Zealand.

The change in captaincy triggered a wave of memes online, with coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar facing criticism. Shami addressed the social media chatter while backing the young opener.

“Bahut hi zyada memes ban rahe hai is sawal ko leke. I feel there should not be any objection. This is the decision of the BCCI, selectors and coaches. Shubman captained India in England, and he is the skipper of the Gujarat Titans as well. So, he has the experience. Someone had to be given this responsibility, and the BCCI chose Shubman Gill for that, so we should accept it,” Shami said on his YouTube channel.

Shami urged fans to respect the board’s decision and support Gill as he takes on the new role. He also reminded everyone that leadership in cricket is never permanent.

“People should not raise questions over the captaincy. This is not in our hands. Someone is the captain today, and there will be someone else tomorrow. This cycle will continue,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shami missed out on the upcoming Australia tour as he was left out of the ODI squad. The selection committee chose Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna as India’s pace options for the three-match series.