Speaking to the media for the first time since being announced as India’s ODI captain, Shubman Gill said that India has both his predecessors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in their plans as his side begin preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. After filling his shoes as skipper of the side in the longest format, Gill also replaced Rohit as India’s ODI captain after selectors deemed that having three different captains in three different formats would cause a managerial headache, leaving both Rohit and Kohli to make it into the team based on form and batting performance alone. But Gill hopes to have them by his side for the quadrennial showpiece event in two years’ time in South Africa. “The experience they have and the number of matches they have won for India, there are very few players who have (done) that,” Gill told reporters ahead of the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi on Thursday. “There are very few players in the world with such skill, quality and experience. From that perspective, we are definitely looking at them for 2027.” Gill also opened up on the traits that he has picked up from Rohit after replacing him as India’s Test captain. “There are so many qualities that I have inherited from Rohit bhai, and still want to,” Gill said. “The calmness that he poses and shows to us, and the kind of friendships that he has built with the players in the group, is something that I aspire to. These are the qualities that I want to take from him.” Rohit and Kohli will play professional cricket for the first time during India’s white-ball tour of Australia later this month. The first of the three-match ODI series with the Aussies will begin in Perth on Sunday, October 19. India will also play five T20I matches down under.
