India’s cricket corridors are buzzing again, not over a match result but over a selection call that has raised more questions than answers.
The BCCI’s decision to remove Rohit Sharma as ODI captain, just months after he lifted the Champions Trophy, has drawn sharp criticism from former India wicketkeeper and selector Saba Karim. Speaking on his YouTube show Kadak, Karim did not mince words.
“Team mein aap kyon rakh rahe hain? Agar woh captain nahi hain to phir unka future dekh nahi rahe. 2027 ke World Cup mein nahi rahenge to fir aise khiladi ko team mein kyun rakha hai?”
(Why keep him in the team? If he’s not captain, you clearly don’t see him as part of the 2027 World Cup.)
Karim’s argument cuts deep. If Rohit is not seen as a long-term prospect, his inclusion in the ODI setup signals a confused vision. He accuses the board of being caught between short-term glory and long-term planning. As someone who has served as both national selector and BCCI’s General Manager of Cricket Operations, Karim’s critique carries weight. He has been on the other side of the table and understands the complexities of succession planning in Indian cricket.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar defended the move, citing the need to prepare Shubman Gill for leadership ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. Agarkar pointed to a cramped ODI calendar and the difficulty of managing three different captains across formats.
At 38, Rohit Sharma would be around 40 by the 2027 tournament, a reality the selectors cannot ignore. Yet with a 75% ODI win rate as captain, Rohit’s record speaks louder than age. To many, sidelining him so soon feels like erasing a legacy still in motion.
Beyond the selection sheet lies a more philosophical question: What does India really want continuity or change? In its quest to shape the next generation, the BCCI may be risking the stability that veterans like Rohit bring. Cricket fans are divided. Some see this as necessary evolution, others call it a misstep in timing. Either way, one truth stands: in Indian cricket, leadership is not just about strategy. It is about emotion, respect, and the stories that still have a few overs left to play.
This is not just about Rohit Sharma. It is about how India manages transitions not only between captains but between eras. In sport, as in life, timing defines legacy.
