The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced the ODI squad for the upcoming India’s tour of Australia. The reports were claiming from the last two days that Rohit Sharma will not continue as a captain on the tour, turned out to be true. Ajeet Agarkar, in the press conference after the squad announcement, said the decision to change captaincy was taken for the future course.
For Indian Cricket fans, this is an emotional moment as Rohit's captaincy journey is not only about trophies but the redefining of India’s approach to the game. Sharma's last match as a captain was in the finals of the Champions Trophy.
The Beginning of an Era(2022)
In February 2022, Rohit Sharma was appointed as the captain of India in all three formats. His first ICC tournament as a captain was the 2022 T-20 World Cup, which ended in disappointment with a semifinal loss to England. From there, Rohit identified that there is a need for change in the playing style of the team. Dinesh Karthik, the former Indian cricketer who was part of that squad, said in an interview that when we lost to England in the Semifinals, Sharma said to me, we have to change our game as a team from there, we have seen what a turnaround for the Indian Cricket team. India started playing an attacking game from the first over, and the Captain himself started attacking from the very first ball. This is setting an example by a leader.
Road of Redemption (2023)
From the 2023 Asia Cup, the Indian team was playing in a very different zone. Rohit scored 194 runs in the tournament with an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 107.77, guiding India to a dominant title win. But the real test was the 2023 ODI World Cup.
In the 2023 World Cup, India was strategically ahead of every team, if we leave the unfortunate final. Sharma showed his brilliance in the tournament not only with captaincy but also with the bat. India was unbeaten from the group stages to the semifinal; they won 10 matches in a row. Rohit scored 597 runs in 11 innings at an average of 54.27 and a strike rate of 125.95. Though the final ended with a heartbreak, India's dominance was undeniable, and Rohit's leadership was widely hailed. The world has never seen an Indian team like this on the World Cup stage, and credit goes to the captain.
KL Rahul said in the interview after 2023 that I never saw a captain who makes a strategy like Rohit Sharma. Rahul further highlighted that Rohit does a significant amount of "homework" on opposition strengths and weaknesses, allowing him to be "two steps ahead" and always have a plan, making him a highly effective and sharp leader.
End of the Trophy Drought (2024)
During the T-20 World Cup 2024, no one was expecting that India would win this. Rohit strategically won the tournament unbeaten and ended the trophy drought, and won the T-20 World Cup after 17 long years. In the semifinal against Australia, Rohit stepped in as a batsman and scored 92 runs in 41 balls. Rohit Sharma, the highest scorer from the Indian side in the tournament, scored 257 runs in 8 matches with a strike rate of 156.71. In the final, India held their nerve against South Africa, showcasing the tactical sharpness that defined Rohit’s captaincy.
The final triumph 2025 Champions Trophy
If 2024 was redemption, 2025 sealed Rohit's legacy. India lifted the Champions Trophy after 12 years. India dominated throughout the tournament and won all their 5 matches. Rohit was the top scorer in the final. Who knew this would be his last match as a captain?
Triumph Records as a captain
Rohit's record as captain in ODIs is phenomenal. He captained India in 56 matches and won 42. His winning percentage is 76. Also in the ICC tournament, he captained in 16 matches and won 15 of them.
The favourite “Bhaiya” of the dressing room.
What made Rohit Sharma special wasn't just runs or trophies - it was his bond with youngsters. Whenever any youngster talks about Rohit Sharma, they say he is so friendly and nice to us. He keeps us very close. Rishabh Pant once said in an interview that he wanted to learn one thing from Rohit Sharma: how to treat his teammates with love and care. Dhruv Jurel shared in an Interview that Rohit Bhai sits with young players and keeps us happy. He shouted at us on the ground like a big brother forgetting everything when we are out for dinner. He keeps a funny atmosphere. Sanju Samson, after the T20 World Cup 2024, said I was almost to play in the final, but I didn't play. I was upset about that when Rohit came to me and explained everything, he said I was not expecting before a big match why a captain would explain why a player is not playing. This makes Rohit Sharma different and a legend. Everyone, from youngsters to experts, talks about how Rohit’s nature helps to keep a good atmosphere.
Legacy Beyond Numbers
Rohit has already retired from Tests and T20Is, and ODI is the only format where he is playing. The question remains how long he will play as a batsman. Agarkar admitted in a press conference that Rohit Sharma and Virat are not committed to play in the 2027 World Cup. He said we communicated to Rohit about the captaincy, and further said that it is very hard for us to remove Sharma as captain.
We don't know what's going on behind the scenes.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy era will be remembered as a turning point in Indian cricket. He transformed the team's mindset, instilled fearless cricket, and brought home two major ICC trophies. Though his time as captain has ended, his influence on Indian cricket will continue to inspire the next generation.