Rohit Sharma has become the new captain of the Indian ODI cricket team, replacing Virat Kohli. Many fans are confused after this decision because the Indian cricket team had performed well in ODIs under Kohli. In their last ODI series under Kohli, the Indian cricket team beat the reigning champions of the 50-over format England 2-1.
Ahead of the Indian cricket team’s tour of South Africa, the BCCI announced that the All India Senior Selection Committee has finalized the name of Rohit Sharma as the ODI skipper going forward. Fans should note that this will not be the first time India plays an ODI series under Rohit. So far, they have played 10 ODIs under Sharma, where they have registered 8 wins and 2 losses. Most importantly, India won Asia Cup 2018 under Rohit’s leadership.
Speaking of Rohit Sharma as the new Indian ODI captain, there have been four Indian players who started their one-day international careers under the Hitman’s captaincy. Here’s a list of those four players.
1. Shreyas Iyer – ODI debut under Rohit Sharma in 2017
Current Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer started his ODI career under Rohit’s captaincy in the year 2017. It was four years ago, on December 10, 2017. It was the first match of Rohit as the ODI captain. India lost that match against Sri Lanka by seven wickets. Shreyas scored nine runs in that match.
2. Shubman Gill – ODI debut under Rohit Sharma in 2019
A year after winning the U-19 World Cup with India U-19s, Shubman Gill made his ODI debut for the senior Indian team against New Zealand in 2019. Rohit was the team’s captain in that match. Incidentally, like Shreyas Iyer, Shubman scored nine runs in that match. India lost to the Blackcaps by eight wickets in that encounter.
3. Washington Sundar
Tamil Nadu-based all-rounder Washington Sundar has played only one ODI game in his career so far. That match was under the leadership of Rohit against Sri Lanka in 2017. Many members of the cricket universe would remember that Sharma scored 208 runs as captain against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2017. Sundar made his debut and took one wicket that day.
4. Khaleel Ahmed
The last name on this list is Khaleel Ahmed. The left-arm pacer debuted in Asia Cup 2018 against Hong Kong and bowled a match-winning spell of 3/48.
