Rohit Sharma's future as team India captain under scrutiny ahead of ICC champions trophy 2025

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Team India captain Rohit Sharma’s future in international cricket appears to be uncertain following a challenging tour of Australia, where he managed just 31 runs in 3 Tests and had to bench himself for the fifth and final Test in Sydney last month. Despite these setbacks, Rohit has retained the captaincy of the Indian ODI team until at least the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After leading India to the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final and the T20 World Cup 2024 title, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has continued to back Rohit, placing their trust in him for the Champions Trophy 2025. However according to a report by TOI, BCCI selectors have already begun discussions with the 36-year-old captain regarding his future plans beyond the tournament.

The report reveals that the BCCI is eager to secure a "stable" captaincy option for both Test and ODI formats. Rohit, who will turn 38 in April, will be 40 by the time the next ODI World Cup is held in South Africa in 2027. The selectors and BCCI officials have reportedly had discussions with Rohit regarding his future, emphasizing the importance of a smooth transition for the team’s leadership. A BCCI source was quoted saying, "The selectors and people in the board had this discussion with Rohit around the time of the last selection meeting. He has been told that he needs to decide how he wants to plan his future after the Champions Trophy. The team management has certain plans going into the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and the ODI World Cup. They want to ensure everyone is on the same page for a smoother transition.