3 Players Who Should Captain India if Shubman Gill Misses IND vs SA 2025 ODIs ft. KL Rahul

The Indian men’s selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has a difficult task ahead as they prepare the squad for the three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting on November 30 in Ranchi.

Selecting a squad is always tough, but this time the committee may also need to choose a new captain. Reports say that regular skipper Shubman Gill is likely to miss the series because of a neck injury he suffered during India’s first innings in the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. Gill faced only three balls before he had to leave the field and took no further part in the match. He also missed the second Test, and the BCCI confirmed that the 26-year-old will travel to Mumbai for more tests.

Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is also expected to miss the ODI series. He suffered a spleen injury during the Sydney ODI against Australia last month, and reports suggest he will be out until at least the IPL 2026.

With both the captain and vice-captain likely ruled out, here are three players who should be considered to lead India if Shubman Gill is unavailable for the IND vs SA 2025 ODIs.

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1. Rohit Sharma

The first option is former captain Rohit Sharma. He was recently removed as ODI captain before the three-match series against Australia, which India lost 2-1.

Because of his huge experience and strong bond with the team, the management may consider bringing Rohit back as captain instead of choosing someone new. Rohit has led India in 56 ODIs, winning 42 of them, giving him an impressive 75% win rate. His leadership skills and the trust he has in the dressing room make him a top choice, especially as India looks to recover after the loss to Australia.

Rohit is also in great form. In the Australia ODIs, he scored 202 runs in three innings at an average of 101, including a fifty and a century. He also won the Player of the Series award. With confidence and momentum on his side, Rohit leading India for one more series could be the best option.

2. KL Rahul

Another strong contender is wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul. He has been excellent for India in ODIs. The 33-year-old has played 88 matches, scoring 3,092 runs at an average of 48.31 and a strike rate of 88.41, with 18 fifties and seven centuries.

Rahul also has leadership experience. He has captained India in 12 ODIs, winning eight and losing four. His last ODI captaincy came in December 2023 against South Africa, when India won the series 2-1. His seniority and calm nature make him a reliable option if Gill is unavailable.

3. Axar Patel

The third option is all-rounder Axar Patel. The 31-year-old has played 71 ODIs, scoring 858 runs with three fifties and taking 75 wickets.

Axar was part of India’s leadership group earlier this year as vice-captain for the five-match T20I series against England. He also has leadership experience in domestic cricket for Gujarat and in the IPL for Delhi Capitals. Because of this, the management may consider him to lead India if Shubman Gill is ruled out.