On October 4, 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain ahead of India’s tour of Australia, marking the official end of Rohit Sharma‘s tenure as white-ball skipper.
In the high-stakes world of international cricket, few transitions feel as poignant as the passing of the captain’s armband from one legend to the next.
At 38, the man affectionately known as “Hitman” steps aside not in retirement from the format—he remains in the squad alongside Virat Kohli—but in a move that signals the dawn of a new era for Indian cricket.
This decision, while strategically sound for the long haul toward the 2027 ODI World Cup, has left fans nostalgic, with a 13-year-old tweet from Rohit Sharma resurfacing like a prophetic echo:
“End of an era (45) and the start of a new one (77).” The numbers ? His iconic jersey and Gill’s own.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy odyssey, spanning all three formats, was a masterclass in composure, innovation, and heartbreak.
Taking over the reins in late 2021 from a beleaguered Virat Kohli, he infused India’s leadership with a breezy aggression that mirrored his boundary-hitting flair.
But as the dust settles on his ODI command, it’s time to reflect on a career that redefined success—and its elusive peaks—for a billion-plus fans.
The Dawn: From Reluctant Leader to Triple-Format Titan
Rohit Sharma wasn’t born with the captain’s burden; it was thrust upon him amid turbulence.
In December 2021, following Kohli’s abrupt resignation from T20I captaincy and his subsequent ODI ouster, Rohit Sharma was elevated as full-time white-ball skipper.
By July 2022, he had added the Test captaincy to his portfolio after Kohli’s exit from that format too, becoming India’s first all-format leader since MS Dhoni in 2014.
His early days were electric. In 2022, Rohit Sharma led a resurgent 
India to a historic 2-1 ODI series win in England—the first such victory there since 2014—and followed it with a T20I series triumph on the same tour.
Critics who once questioned his tactical acumen were silenced as he balanced explosive batting with shrewd bowling changes.
“Rohit brought a sense of calm and assurance,” BCCI President Roger Binny later reflected, a sentiment echoed across the cricketing fraternity.
Peaks of Glory: ICC Silverware and Unforgettable Knocks
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy will forever be etched with silverware. The pinnacle arrived in June 2024, when he guided India to T20 World Cup glory in the West Indies, ending an 11-year ICC drought.
Retiring from the format immediately after—bat raised in triumph—he called it a “dream come true,” having orchestrated a campaign where his team defended low totals and chased down giants with clinical precision.
ODI highs were equally dazzling. As stand-in skipper in 2018, he clinched the Asia Cup; he repeated the feat outright in 2023.
The 2023 ODI World Cup was a rollercoaster: unbeaten through the league stage, only to shatter hearts in a 6-wicket final loss to Australia at Ahmedabad.
Yet, redemption came in March 2025 with the ICC Champions Trophy—a tense final where Rohit Sharma’s match-winning knock sealed the deal, earning him Player of the Match honors.
In just under 10 months, he’d captained India to two ICC titles—a feat that sparked viral tributes on Social Media, with fans dubbing him “Captain Cool 2.0.”
Off the field, Rohit Sharma’s leadership fostered unity. He backed young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, while mentoring veterans through slumps.
His infamous “form is temporary, class is permanent” quips became memes, but they underscored a philosophy of resilience.
As one Social Media user poignantly noted amid the handover buzz: “Rohit showed magnanimity and retired after winning the World Cup… to give a chance to new players.”
The Valleys: Form Slumps, Criticisms, and the Test Farewell
No captaincy is without thorns. In Tests, Rohit Sharma’s 2022 appointment brought initial promise—a 2023 World Test Championship final appearance—but cracks emerged.
A shocking 0-3 home whitewash by New Zealand in late 2024 ended India’s 12-year unbeaten streak at home, followed by a 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss in Australia.
His batting faltered too: from eight Tests Down Under, he averaged a dismal 10.93, culminating in selflessly dropping himself for the Sydney decider.
These struggles fueled debates. Was Rohit too aggressive for Tests ? Had favoritism toward “his boys” like Ishan Kishan overshadowed selections ? Whispers of internal politics swirled, especially post the 2023 World Cup final.
By May 2025, amid IPL duties, Rohit announced his Test retirement—his 4,301 runs at 40.57 a solid legacy, but recent form (10.93 average in his last eight games) a sobering close.
“I will continue in ODIs,” he stated, eyes on one last hurrah.
Social Media erupted with mixed emotions: tributes like “Thank you Captain Rohit” videos garnered millions of views, while some lamented BCCI’s “mission to alienate fans.”
Rohit Sharma’s Handover: Why Now, and What’s Next ?
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar didn’t mince words: “It’s practically impossible to have three different captains for three formats… We have to think about 2027.”
With Suryakumar Yadav helming T20Is and Gill already Test captain since May, unifying leadership under the 26-year-old prodigy made sense.
Gill’s poise—leading a 2-2 Test draw in England with 754 runs—earned him the nod, with Shreyas Iyer as deputy.
Rohit and Kohli, absent internationally since the March 2025 Champions Trophy, return as batters for the Australia ODIs starting October 19.
Their spots hinge on form and domestic commitments, Agarkar emphasized—no guarantees for the World Cup duo.
Yet, in a squad blending youth (Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana) with experience, Rohit Sharma’s presence could be a guiding light.
Fans on Social Media captured the bittersweet vibe: “End of an era… You deserve better,” one post read, attached to a montage of Rohit Sharma’s six-hitting symphony.
Another: “From forcing RO-KO into retirement… BCCI on a mission.” But stats don’t lie—Rohit Sharma’s 75% ODI win rate and two ICC trophies in quick succession cement his legacy.
Rohit Sharma’s Legacy: The Hitman Who Hit Hearts
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy wasn’t flawless, but it was transformative. He won 15 of 16 ICC events (barring that 2023 final), democratized aggression in Indian cricket, and exited on his terms—mostly.
As Gill straps on the armband, Rohit slips into elder statesman mode, his 264-run ODI record and seven World Cup tons a beacon for the next gen.
In the words of a viral social media thread: “Rohit Sharma gave India 16 years but…” The “but” is the future. For now, though, raise a toast to the Hitman: for the trophies, the tweets, and the era that ends not with a whimper, but a six.
Thank you, Captain. The game’s just getting started.
Also Read : Shubman Gill Replaces Rohit Sharma as new ODI Captain