Ex-India star brutally assaults Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir for sacking Rohit Sharma as ODI captain

Former India batter Mohammed Kaif has joined a heated debate, as he openly questioned the timing of the captaincy change that saw Rohit Sharma replaced by Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain. He took to Instagram to voice his disappointment over the sacking of Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain.

Kaif slammed the BCCI and the selectors by saying that a player who gave 16 years to Indian cricket deserved at least one more year as captain, especially with the ICC World Cup 2027 on the horizon.

Mohammad Kaif questions BCCI’s move to replace Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill

He reminded them that Rohit had led India in 16 ICC event matches, winning 15 of them, with the only loss coming in the heartbreaking 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia.

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Mohammad Kaid said in a video on his Instagram handle, “Rohit Sharma gave 16 years to India, and we couldn’t give him even one more year as captain. In 16 ICC event matches, he won 15 and lost one—the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia.”

The commentator also highlighted Rohit’s recent achievements and recalled the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai, where the Hitman not only guided the Men in Blue to victory but was also named the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock of 76 runs against New Zealand.

Mohammad Kaif says Rohit Sharma’s graceful retirement cost him his captaincy

Under Rohit’s leadership, India also clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup. Kaif praised Rohit’s humility, saying he stepped away from T20Is after the T20 World Cup triumph to make space for younger players, showing a rare selflessness for someone at the peak of his career.

Kaif further explained, “He was the player of the match in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. There, he brought the trophy home. In the 2024 World Cup, India won the trophy under him. He showed greatness by retiring there, saying, ‘We’ve won the 2024 World Cup; let new players come in. He stayed out of the limelight for some time; someone else captained. When new players came, he lost his place.”

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Mohammad Kaif slams BCCI for rushing captaincy change, says Rohit Sharma deserved 1 more year

While Rohit prioritized the team over personal glory and worked tirelessly to groom young talent, guiding them through high-pressure situations, the BCCI didn’t value him. And Kaif expressed frustration that Rohit was not given the chance to lead India for one more year.

The former Indian batter has questioned why the BCCI and the selectors rushed the transition instead of allowing Rohit to continue till the ICC World Cup 2027. Kaif believes that the change, though strategic, lacked patience and overlooked the value of Rohit’s experience and legacy.

Kaif signed off by saying, “In India, there are examples of people stretching their time; Rohit Sharma did not do that. He made players, taught them, backed them, and mentored them to perform under pressure. But we could not give him one year. In the 2027 World Cup, he will not lead the team; Shubman Gill will take over. Gill is young and fresh and could be a good captain, but there is no necessity to fast-track everything.”

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A post shared by Mohammad Kaif (@mohammadkaif87)

Notably, both Rohit and Virat Kohli were named in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia. Now, the iconic batters will play under Shubman Gill, and they will now only get the chance if they continue to make runs in the format, according to the media reports.