Rohit Sharma added another big record to his name in the second ODI against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on October 23. The Indian opener became the first Indian to score over 1000 ODI runs against Australia in Australia.

Rohit Sharma becomes first Indian to score 1000 ODI runs in Australia against Australia

He needed just two runs before the match to reach the mark and crossed it early in his innings. Rohit has scored these runs at an average of over 55, including four hundreds and two fifties in 21 innings. Among Indian batters, Virat Kohli is next with 802 runs, followed by Sachin Tendulkar (740), MS Dhoni (684) and Shikhar Dhawan (517).

In Adelaide, Rohit had a slow start scoring only one run from his first 11 balls and surviving a close run-out chance. He returned to the team after seven months in the first ODI in Perth, where he was out for just eight runs.

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Rohit is also India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in ODIs, with more than 11,000 runs at an average of over 48. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after their seven-wicket win in Perth.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup in sight, India’s seasoned duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to feature in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, a move aimed at reaffirming their commitment to 50-over cricket and proving their readiness for the next ODI cycle.

According to reports, both stalwarts are expected to play at least three matches each for their respective state teams, Delhi (Kohli) and Mumbai (Rohit), before rejoining the national setup for the New Zealand ODI series in January 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed state associations to prepare for their inclusion, signalling the selectors’ intent to make domestic participation mandatory for all centrally contracted players.

India’s final ODI of 2025 will be played against South Africa on December 6 in Visakhapatnam. After that, there’s a five-week gap before the New Zealand series begins on January 11 in Vadodara, a window that conveniently aligns with the Vijay Hazare Trophy schedule. Mumbai will play six league games between December 24 and January 8, and selectors expect both senior players to utilize the tournament to stay in rhythm.

A BCCI source confirmed to PTI, “The Vijay Hazare Trophy starts on December 24. There will be six rounds for Mumbai (December 24, 26, 29, 31, Jan 3, 6, 8). Rohit will be expected to at least play three rounds before linking up with the squad. Ditto for Virat.”

Selectors push for domestic participation

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has emphasized that all fit and available players must participate in domestic cricket to remain part of India’s long-term plans. With limited ODI fixtures in the upcoming months, the Vijay Hazare Trophy presents a crucial opportunity for Kohli and Rohit to maintain match fitness and form in the 50-over format.

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Ashwin backs move for veterans to play domestic cricket

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, also stressed the importance of senior players participating in domestic competitions to stay sharp.

“If you need their services, you have to find a way. For example, the India ‘A’ series happened, so you need to ask them to play that because there is not much 50-over cricket. If not that, then they have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, because that will let us know the kind of form they are in,” said Ashwin.

As India begins long-term planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy could serve as a vital testing ground for the veteran pair, ensuring they remain aligned with the team’s evolving roadmap.

The Indian cricket team will depart for Australia in two separate batches on October 15 from New Delhi to play a three-match ODI series followed by a five-match T20I contest. The decision to split the travel schedule was made due to logistical challenges and limited availability of business-class tickets for the long-haul journey.

According to sources in the BCCI, one group of players will fly out in the morning, while the second batch is expected to leave later in the evening. The team will travel to Perth, where the first ODI of the series will be played on October 19.

This white-ball tour comes immediately after India’s ongoing home assignment against the West Indies, with the second and final Test in Delhi scheduled to conclude on October 14. Players part of both the Test and ODI squads will regroup in the capital before departure.

Rohit, Kohli and Iyer to join in Delhi

Former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with newly appointed vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, are expected to join the rest of the ODI squad in New Delhi ahead of the team’s departure. “Virat and Rohit will touch down in the capital either on the day of departure or a day prior,” a source told PTI.

If the ongoing domestic or international commitments end earlier than anticipated, some players might be granted a short break to visit their families before assembling in Delhi.

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Shubman Gill takes charge of ODI side

In a major decision, Shubman Gill has been named captain of India’s ODI team, succeeding Rohit Sharma. The move reflects the selectors’ focus on future planning and leadership transition. Despite speculation surrounding their ODI futures, both Rohit and Kohli are understood to have conveyed their intent to continue until the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Team dinner hosted by Gautam Gambhir

Before the squad’s departure, head coach Gautam Gambhir has invited all players for a team dinner at his residence in Rajinder Nagar, Delhi. The informal gathering aims to build team spirit and unity ahead of what promises to be a challenging overseas tour.

India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Dhruv Jurel (WK)

India’s T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Rohit Sharma’s time as Team India captain has ended after he was removed as ODI skipper ahead of the white-ball tour of Australia. While the Hitman will continue as a player, Shubman Gill has been named India’s new ODI captain, marking the start of a new era in Indian cricket.

Rohit retired from T20Is after leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies. He also retired from Test cricket after a poor tour of Australia in 2024-25. The 38-year-old has been in good form in ODIs and even guided the team to a Champions Trophy win earlier this year. However, there is still doubt about his availability for the 2027 World Cup.

Rohit took over the captaincy from Virat Kohli and performed well as both a batter and leader in white-ball cricket. Now, as his captaincy chapter ends, let’s compare his ODI captaincy record with that of Kohli.

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Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli: Who Has a Better Record as ODI Captain?

Rohit Sharma’s journey as India’s ODI captain ended after leading the team from 2017 to 2025. He captained India in 56 matches, winning 42 and losing 14. One match ended in a tie, and one in no result. His win percentage stands at 75%, which is among the best for Indian captains.

In contrast, Virat Kohli led India in 95 ODIs between 2013 and 2021. Under his captaincy, India won 65 matches and lost 27. Kohli’s win percentage was 68.42%, slightly lower than Rohit’s but across a larger number of matches.

Overall Captaincy Record in ODIs

Rohit’s record shows greater consistency in limited matches, while Kohli led India across more series and tours globally.

Batting Records as Captain

When it comes to batting, Rohit scored 2,506 runs in 56 ODIs as captain, averaging 52.20 with a strike rate of 111.97. He smashed five centuries and 17 fifties, including a career-best score of 208*.

On the other hand, Kohli’s numbers are outstanding. He scored 5,449 runs in 95 ODIs as captain, averaging 72.65 with a strike rate of 98.28. He hit 21 hundreds and 27 fifties, showing remarkable consistency.

Rohit has a better strike rate, while Kohli dominates in average and centuries — reflecting his consistency over time.

ICC ODI Events Comparison

In ICC tournaments, Rohit led India in 16 matches, winning 15 and losing just one. He guided India to the Champions Trophy 2025 title and the 2023 World Cup final. Kohli, meanwhile, captained India in 14 ICC ODI games, winning 10. His side lost in the 2017 Champions Trophy final and the 2019 World Cup semifinal.

Performance in Wins

Rohit scored 2,080 runs in India’s 42 wins under his captaincy, averaging 59.42. In contrast, Kohli amassed 4,211 runs in 65 wins, averaging a stunning 87.72.

In conclusion, Rohit Sharma has a slightly better win percentage as captain, while Virat Kohli has far superior batting stats and consistency. Rohit led with calmness and success in ICC events, whereas Kohli’s aggressive leadership style produced dominant bilateral series wins. Both captains have left a lasting legacy in Indian ODI cricket.

Former T20 World Cup-winning Australia captain Aaron Finch believes Shubman Gill will remain calm in his first ODI captaincy role for India, especially since he will have experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli around him, unlike during the England tour.

Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar surprised the cricket world by revealing that he personally informed Rohit about the management’s decision to relieve him of the captaincy. The leadership was handed to Gill two years before the 2027 World Cup so he could settle into the role ahead of the big event.

The 26-year-old has now officially taken charge in two formats. He was given the Test captaincy after Rohit retired from the format in May. In his first assignment, Gill led India in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. India drew the series 2-2, even though Gill had few senior players to guide him.

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Aaron Finch Praises Shubman Gill’s Leadership Skills

"Shubman Gill is a brilliant player. He has shown his leadership skills. The way he led in the Test series in England proved what a good leader he is. He’s the right man to lead Indian cricket forward," Finch said (ICC).

"Shubman has already shown what a good leader he is in T20 cricket and Test cricket, so I’m sure this will be no different. He’s a brilliant player, especially in white-ball formats. The way he captained against England in the Test series is a big tick in his box to take the next step and lead India across all three formats," Finch added during an ICC Digital interview from Colombo during the ongoing Women’s World Cup.

Finch also highlighted the advantage of having experienced players around. “In the England Test series, Gill didn’t have many senior players to turn to for advice on the ground, but he did a wonderful job himself. Having Rohit and Kohli around will give him calmness. It allows him to share ideas, both on and off the field, about how he wants the team to function, because they have been a huge part of the team for a long time,” Finch said.

He concluded, “Shubman has already shown his leadership in T20 and Test cricket. With support from senior players, he can take Indian cricket forward in all formats.”

Aaron Finch said - "Shubman Gill is a brilliant player. He showed his capabilities in leadership. The way he led in the Test series in England, he showed what a good leader he is. He's right man to take lead Indian cricket forward". (ICC). pic.twitter.com/PBHNvKuGbG

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) October 5, 2025

Shubman Gill Aims for World Cup Glory as India’s New ODI Captain

After being named ODI captain, Shubman Gill is focused on the World Cup. India is expected to play around 20 ODIs before the tournament, and Gill wants to lift the trophy in South Africa.

"It is the biggest honour to lead your country in ODIs and to captain a team that has done well. I am very proud. I hope to do great. We have about 20 ODIs before the World Cup, and the ultimate goal is the World Cup in South Africa," Gill said in a video posted by the BCCI.

India ODI Squad for Australia:

Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Rohit Sharma's time as Team India’s ODI captain came to an end on Saturday, October 4, after he was replaced by Test captain Shubman Gill. This big decision was made to give Gill enough time to build a strong team for the 2027 World Cup, which will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Rohit is now 38, and there are doubts about his availability for that tournament.

The Hitman’s removal as ODI captain marks the end of an era in Indian cricket. After India’s shocking exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, Rohit led from the front and changed the team’s mindset. More than his numbers, his biggest contribution was making the Men in Blue an aggressive and confident white-ball team.

Rohit and Dhoni are often called Team India’s best white-ball captains. After Rohit’s removal as ODI skipper, here’s a look at how the two legends compare in ODI captaincy stats.

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 In conclusion, we can say Rohit has a higher win percentage and strike rate as captain, while Dhoni has the edge in experience, runs, and trophies. Both stand tall as India’s finest white-ball leaders.

For Indian cricket fans, the wait is almost over. As India embarks on a tough ODI series against Australia later this month, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be returning in blue. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will announce their squad on Saturday, and after a seven month absence from representative cricket, Kohli and Rohit will both be back in the ODI mix.

Both Kohli and Rohit, who have been retired from T20Is and Tests, are now single-format players and will be focusing on ODIs exclusively. Their return adds significant fire power to India's batting arsenal as they prepare for three high profile ODI matches in Perth (19 October), Adelaide (23 October) and Sydney (25 October). Kohli's century against Pakistan and useful runs in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy against Australia and Rohit's match winning innings across the ditch in the final against New Zealand, indicates India is still hopeful about both of their services to the ODI match setup.

Selectors set to finalise India’s ODI squad with Kohli and Rohit back

The topic of captaincy is also on the agenda. Although Rohit has had a lot of success in leading India to a number of memorable victories, the selectors are likely to have a one-on-one dialogue with him as part of the decision-making process for his potential continuation as the ODI captain. According to someone close to the BCCI, barring any moving of the goalposts or as long as Rohit wants to keep batting purely, he should keep the ODI captaincy. 

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The team is expected to look a lot like it did in winning the Champions Trophy. However, the selectors will likely keep Shreyas Iyer who was India's top scorer in the Champions Trophy in place. Sanju Samson is expected to be kept in the squad as the backup wicketkeeper with KL Rahul as the first-choice keeper. Injuries will complicate things. Hardik Pandya is still out with a quadriceps injury while Rishabh Pant is making progress after his foot fracture. Alongside those two injuries, all-round options for the selectors now include Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube. 

Selectors are also likely to take another look at Shubman Gill once he has appeared in the Asia Cup and a series of Test Matches. The selectors will consider resting him for the ODI series. In that case, Yashasvi Jaiswal or Abhishek Sharma may likely get the chance to open with Rohit. Notably, Abhishek has been in good form and not only provides an opening option but also offers an option of left-arm spin, which may be helpful in Australian conditions.

Jasprit Bumrah has been burdened with a great deal of work during the Asia Cup and the Tests that are underway, and it is possible that he could also be rested with the South Africa Test series considered the priority in November.

After the ODIs, there is a five-match T20I series starting October 29 which will provide opportunities for younger players while India prepares for next year's home T20 World Cup. For now, however, all focus will be on the ODI returns of Kohli and Rohit, who will give India a confident start to the tour with their involvement.

Indian ODI captain Rohit Sharma has begun his build-up for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, spending a week at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The 38-year-old opener, who has retired from Tests and T20Is, is now fully committed to ODIs and is sharpening his skills for the tour starting October 19 in Perth.

According to RevSportz journalist Rohit Juglan, Sharma arrived at the CoE earlier this week and specifically requested bouncy practice wickets to prepare for Australian conditions. On Tuesday, he batted for nearly an hour in the nets, focusing on strokeplay and adjusting to pace and bounce. It marked his first extended session since the IPL 2025 season in June.

Sharma had earlier cleared the mandatory Yo-Yo and Bronco fitness tests at the CoE in August. While his initial schedule suggested just a short stay, the extended one-week camp highlights his intent to prepare thoroughly. Reports suggested he could feature in the India A vs Australia A series later this month, but selectors kept him out to ensure he remains fresh and focused for the senior team.

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ODI captain leads India’s build-up with focused training before Australia series

With over 11,000 ODI runs and three double centuries to his name, Sharma remains India’s most experienced campaigner in the format. His last international outing came in India’s Champions Trophy final win over New Zealand in March. This series against Australia is India’s first white-ball tour Down Under since the 2023 World Cup, adding to its importance. Facing a pace attack led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Sharma’s ability to handle the bounce at the top of the order will be crucial.

The news of Sharma’s training camp has sparked excitement among fans, many celebrating his return to “Hitman mode.” Analysts also praised his proactive request for bouncy wickets, calling it a smart move to replicate conditions in Australia. With other key players like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant also preparing at the CoE, India’s ODI squad is steadily building momentum ahead of the high-profile tour.

Chris Gayle, the batting giant of West Indies cricket known for towering sixes and a destructive batting style, recently weighed in on the sport's most iconic cricket shots and the players who executed them. In a YouTube interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Gayle articulated which cricketers, to him, have defined some strokes in cricketing history. The players that he selected gave the fans a nostalgic and memorable glimpse at batting artistry.

For the straight drive, Gayle's first selection was the great Sachin Tendulkar, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest batters of all time. Tendulkar's straight drive has long been considered an example of technical perfection and grace, generally played with the full face of the bat.

From cover drives to switch hits: Gayle’s picks

Gayle selected modern-day master Virat Kohli for his cover drive selection. Kohli's cover drive is touted for his elegance, balance, and timing through the off-side and is currently celebrated as one of the best cover drives in the modern era, and compared to the greats of the past.

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As for the pull shot, Gayle believes that title belongs to India's current captain, Rohit Sharma. At his best, Rohit has made a name for himself with short-pitched bowling. He can pick the length, and he hits the shot so effortlessly that it has become his shot.

For the cut shot, Gayle will give it to the Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who changed one-day cricket at the top of the order. Jayasuriya could cut in between any of the gaps, especially the point region, with ferocious cuts; he was one of the most dangerous openers to ever play the game. 

Gayle believed the reverse sweep belongs to Andy Flower, who was one of the best players to play the shot. Flower used the reverse sweep not just as a run-scoring option, but also to negate spin, which he was doing in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the switch hit. Gayle gave it to former England player Kevin Pietersen, who made the shot famous during his prime years. The switch hit is one of the most audacious shots in cricket.

Gayle's selections demonstrate how these players excelled individually and transformed batting technique in ways that inspired a generation of cricketers. By recognising these masters of single shots, Gayle recognised both the classical and innovative elements of the game and the continually evolving artistic nature of batting in cricket.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill has sent shockwaves through Indian cricket. With the fantasy gaming platforms banned, Dream11 will no longer sponsor the Indian cricket team, and the BCCI is already on the hunt for a new sponsor before the Asia Cup 2025. While the board may not feel much of an impact, Indian players and IPL franchises could face financial consequences that might be too much to absorb.   

For years, the top Indian players have been partnering with these platforms. Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and the Pandya brothers promoted Dream11, while Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal were with My11 Circle. Virat Kohli promoted MPL, and MS Dhoni had a deal with Winzo. With the ban, all of those contracts will evaporate. Reports suggest Virat Kohli could be around INR 10-12 crore every year, while Rohit Sharma's endorsement income could drop by 6-7 crore+. Dhoni is also likely to lose around 4-6 crore every deal.

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Indian players may face heavy losses as gaming sponsors exit

As per a report from Cricbuzz, all Indian players could suffer losses of as much as 150-200 crore in a year. For some, it could be even more. For example, Siraj had three brand deals, one of which was with My11 Circle, meaning he has immediately lost roughly one-third of his total sponsorship fees, while others, such as Washington Sundar, completely rely on the platform and therefore are likely to face a greater hit. Meanwhile, the IPL is also likely to suffer. My11 Circle had an associate sponsorship deal with the league for a total of INR 125 crore, with still three years left on the contract with the BCCI. The franchises, too (KKR, LSG, SRH), have contracts worth 10-20 crore a year in brand partnerships.

Coming to the totals, experts believe that the total loss will be about INR 10,000 crore a year. Online gaming platforms made up 7-8% of the total advertising market, and it's expected that almost 80% of that would go away, hence around 15-20% of digital ad spends will disappear, while also the goldmine of cricket and consequently content revenue will suffer.

As Karan Taurani from Elara Capital mentioned, while cricketers’ endorsement earnings could fall to 20-25%, this is one of the main factors between players and brands to has occurred in a long time. The BCCI may replace the sponsors, but players and IPL franchises are currently looking at a substantial loss.