“When new players came, he lost his place” - Mohammad Kaif slams selectors for sacking Rohit Sharma as ODI captain

Former Indian cricketer and analyst Mohammad Kaif has slammed the Indian selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, for removing Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia Down Under.

Speaking on his Instagram handle, Kaif asserted that Rohit has represented Team India for 16 years and he deserved to be a captain of the Indian ODI team for at least one more year before giving away the reins to Shubman Gill. Moreover, he also stressed Rohit’s World Cup records as a captain.

"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 the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia,” Kaif said on his Instagram handle 

Furthermore, Kaif also heaped praise on Rohit, who won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados and also the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. Additionally, Kaif felt that Gill’s appointment as the new ODI captain had been taken a bit early.

"In the last match of the Champions Trophy in Dubai, Rohit Sharma was the Player of the Match. There, he brought the trophy home. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, India won the trophy, and the trophy is in his name. He showed greatness by retiring there, saying, 'We've won the 2024 World Cup, now 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,” he added.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPZNXE6E8rs/ 

India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.

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