Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra feels Rohit Sharma’s ODI return against Australia will come with a fresh sense of freedom. The veteran opener will feature only as a batter in the ODI series opener in Perth on Sunday, having stepped away from leadership responsibilities.
Earlier this year, India’s Champions Trophy triumph came with Rohit’s brilliant 76 off 83 balls in the final. That match turned out to be his last as India’s ODI captain. Soon after, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel appointed Shubman Gill as captain for the upcoming three-match series against Australia.
The call from the selectors split opinions among fans and experts. While some embraced the change, others felt Rohit should have continued. Mishra, though, believes the shift allows Rohit to express himself better at the top of the order.
“I believe it is good for Rohit that the pressure of captaincy is not on him anymore. He has the freedom. He has to focus on his performance and helping the team win. He can help Gill with different aspects of the captaincy,” Mishra said while speaking exclusively to ANI.
Gill’s Rapid Rise as a Leader
Since May, Shubman Gill’s leadership journey has moved quickly. After Rohit Sharma announced his Test retirement, Gill took charge for a demanding five-match Test tour of England. He dominated with the bat, scoring 754 runs at 75.40, including a stunning 269. The series finished level at 2-2, further solidifying his reputation as a dependable leader.
Mishra Sees Bright Future Under Gill
With a long-term vision in mind, Mishra believes Gill’s early leadership exposure will only help him grow faster.
“I think it is good for Gill. He has been captaining in the IPL for the last two years. He has led top players across the globe. It is good that Gill is being looked at as the captain. Since he has been handed the captaincy early, he will mature quickly and can serve India for a long time. Gill should enjoy and look to mature as quickly as possible,” Mishra added.
As India gear up for the first ODI, Rohit Sharma’s comeback and Gill’s debut ODI captaincy mark a significant moment. It signals a leadership transition with one of India’s finest openers focusing fully on his batting while a new skipper takes charge.
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