Hardik Pandya, Star keeper-batter favourites to replace Rohit Sharma as India's ODI captain

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul are reportedly in contention to replace Rohit Sharma as the new captain of India's ODI team, according to reports.

Rohit is currently leading the Indian team in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Under his captaincy, India have qualified for the final and are now just one win away from winning the tournament. However, reports state that even if India go on to clinch the trophy, Rohit is unlikely to continue as the captain.

Even if Rohit remains a part of the ODI team, he is likely to be removed as a captain because the selectors and the team management want a new leader ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Rohit has already retired from T20Is and there are also calls from several quarters to sack him as the Test captain after a dismal last season.

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India failed to qualify for the WTC final for the first time after suffering a humiliating 3-0 loss at home against New Zealand before conceding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Rohit's performance with the bat during both the series was abysmal and many believe that he won't lead India in the next WTC cycle.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Pakistan superstar officially confirms IPL availability

Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul in contention:

With Rohit Sharma's future as the captain of the India team in doubt, Dainik Jagran has reported that current vice-captain Shubman Gill as well as Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul are in the race to become the new India captain in the 50-over format.

"Look, Gill is currently the vice-captain, but apart from him, Hardik Pandya is also in the race for captaincy. So, if you see Hardik as the captain in the future and Gill remains the vice-captain, it shouldn't come as a surprise. If there is no consensus on Gill and Hardik, then everyone's favorite, KL Rahul, will also enter the captaincy race," a source told the news outlet.

Hardik Pandya was the vice-captain of the T20I team when it won the T20 World Cup last year. He was expected to replace Rohit as the full-time captain but the selectors and the team management went with Suryakumar Yadav.

However, with the allrounder returning to the ODI team and delivering consistent performances, he has once again put himself in the race for the leadership role. KL Rahul has been also an indispensable part of the ODI team while Gill is seen by many as the future of Indian cricket.