After Shubman Gill earned the responsibility of leading the Indian Test side post Virat Kohli’s retirement, just a few days after Rohit Sharma took the same major decision of hanging up his shoes, the reports have claimed that the young player could also get the captaincy for the ODI side. The opportunity may occur for the Punjab-born during the proposed series against Sri Lanka.

Following the BCCI’s decision to postpone their white-ball trip to Bangladesh scheduled next month, it has been learnt that a few cricketing boards have proposed them for a limited-overs series to fill the gap. India were originally planned to move to Bangladesh for a three-match T20I and ODI series, but now, with that series being delayed, the SLC has asked for the same structure.

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The series happened to be special due to the return of Kohli and Rohit, both of whom have now retired from the longest and shortest formats of the game. If the series doesn’t go, then the fans will need to wait for another couple of months before they see these players in action, just before the Australia trip. Sri Lanka could be the best place for them to be back in the game.

Shubman Gill to lead India during ODI series in Sri Lanka

Both Rohit and Kohli, who made their first retirement after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, have their eyes on the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. But the news of Gill leading the side perhaps means neither of these two experienced campaigners would turn up for the tour.

The BCCI has also made several objections on the venue of the upcoming Asia Cup to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting. This year’s edition will be played in the shortest format, keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, next year.

Gill has enjoyed his first three weeks of the red-ball captaincy, having already pocketed a victory during the second Test against England at Edgbaston. He has also been in tremendous touch with a 147 at Leeds, followed by 269 and 161 in Birmingham. In the 50-over format, the right-handed batter has clubbed 2775 runs in 55 innings at an average of 59.04 and a strike rate of nearly 100, thanks to eight centuries and 15 half-centuries.

Just like Virat Kohli was mentored at the start of his career by the senior players, he also helped his juniors in various techniques and intense moments of the game. He did the same with the current left-handed opening batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has marked a fantastic start to his red-ball career with runs in different conditions and challenging situations.

The renowned journalist, Vimal Kumar, has shared a story about how Kohli dedicated a part of his valuable time to mentor Yashasvi Jaiswal during the early phase of his career. The Mumbai batter has followed the same intensity and hunger as the former Indian captain. He also aims to show the same rhythm and dominance as the former Test and T20I batter.

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Vimal reflected a story where Kohli took Jaiswal aside just after ending his net session and went through an engaging conversation of 40-45 minutes. That was a masterclass from the veteran, where he taught the 23-year-old a few batting approaches and how to counter various scenarios. And Jaiswal, just like a good student, was fully attentive to the words.

Journalist shares story of how Virat Kohli mentored Yashasvi Jaiswal 

Vimal also extended by saying how Rohit Sharma, the former Indian Test batter, would also keep inspiring Jaiswal. And now, Virat was also putting so much time behind him. That’s the culture of Indian cricket. But the way Jaiswal learnt it and still looks incredibly hungry for the three formats of the game is extraordinary.

Virat Kohli dedicated a part of his valuable time to mentor Yashasvi Jaiswal during the early phase of his career. It's clear that Jaiswal mirrors the intensity and hunger of a young, prime Kohli. He shares the same hunger to score and dominate like Kohli. pic.twitter.com/YvErPCQQJq

— Crictale_Yash (@JaisFanForever) July 9, 2025

Kohli and Sharma have earned success for India across formats for more than a decade, and after the ongoing England trip, the captain, Shubman Gill, and opener Jaiswal are also on the same route. The former smashed a fine 147 runs in the opening Leeds Test before extending the purple patch with a 269 and 161 in the two innings of the second Edgbaston Test. His responsibility will now grow a lot after this excellent performance at number four.

Jaiswal also celebrated a century at Leeds. He became the joint-fastest to reach 2000 Test runs among the Indian players, along with Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. At present, he has smashed 2018 runs in 40 Test innings at an average of 53.10 and a strike rate of 66.44, thanks to 11 fifties and five centuries.

Another example of Rohit Sharma's brilliant cricket brain. With his guidance, Rushil Ugarkar, emerging pacer of MI New York, became one of the promising young stars of the ongoing MLC 2025. In a recently published article in Cricbuzz, a glimpse of Rohit Sharma's wisdom about cricket sparked. 

Rohit Sharma was watching the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans (RCB vs GT) match on screen with MI's support bowler Rushil Ugarkar. Virat Kohli was then on the pitch for RCB. Rohit then asked Ugarkar where he would like to bowl to take the wicket of Virat. The young pacer said, "I'd probably want him to drive and get him caught at slips"—the scenario is described in the article. 

Ugarkar has developed his cricketing skills a lot. In the ongoing MLC campaign, he not only changed his approach to bowling but also tried to think in a more improvised way. During a match against the LA Knight Riders, the 22-year-old tried variations in pace, which was something new in his bowling proposition. The wicket was sluggish, so he tried slower ones to keep the batters under pressure. 

Read More: 'You've Got To Play Him' - Former England bowler urges inclusion of Jofra Archer for Lord's Test

The rising of Rushil Ugarkar

Rushil, like many seamers, has an intention to attract more pace and offers express deliveries to batsmen. He worked hard to gain extra muscles and pace. His average speed rose from 127 kmph to 134 kmph at this year's MLC, which signifies his hard work. The fast bowler from St. Louis, Missouri, even managed to deliver over 140 cases. 

Ugarkar's evolving tactical views were manifested when he set a 6-3 field against Washington Freedom. The movement was enough to surprise his teammates and the cricket experts. The rise of the young pace bowler will not only help USA cricket but also set an example of how wisdom from an experienced man can change the views of a budding talent. 

Rohit Sharma turned the ICC ODI World Cup 2019 into an exhibition to display his brilliant batting skills. From the initial stage of the tournament, the opener was in fine touch, scored 5 centuries, and registered his name in an all-time record chart.

During this WC campaign, the Mumbaikar became the first batter to score five hundreds in an ODI World Cup. The record was previously held by Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara with 4 tons, and Rohit owned 5. India, as a team, failed to perform in the semifinal against New Zealand and was knocked out of the final race. But Rohit's record is still shining on top of the list. He was the highest run getter of the tournament, surpassing David Warner by only 1 run. In 9 matches, with an average of 81.00, he bagged a total of 648 runs. In those 9 WC games, the opener produced 5 centuries.

In the semifinal against NZ at Old Trafford, the batting lineup of Team India collapsed. Three top-order batsmen—KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli—all lost their wickets for 1 run each. Against New Zealand's 239, India, led by MS Dhoni, was able to score only 221 runs. 

Read More: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 2nd Test: Rishabh Pant lost his bat and wicket at the same ball in Edgbaston

Top 5 batters to score the most centuries in World Cups:

1. Rohit Sharma (2015-2023): 7 centuries 

2. David Warner (2015-2023): 6 centuries 

3. Sachin Tendulkar (1992-2011): 6 centuries 

4. Kumar Sangakkara (2003-2015): 5 centuries 

5. Virat Kohli (2011-2023): 5 centuries 

Centuries from Rohit Sharma in the 2019 World Cup:

1. 122* (144) vs. South Africa 

2. 140 (113) vs Pakistan 

3. 102 (109) vs. England

4. 104 (92) vs. Bangladesh 

5. 103 (94) vs. Sri Lanka 

A hilarious moment came to light when the viewers got a glimpse of some of the current members of the Indian cricket team in Kapil Sharma's show. Rishab Pant, Abhishek Sharma, and Yuzvendra Chahal were all present along with the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir. In a funny exchange, the comedian Kapil Sharma asked Pant to name one player from the dressing room who shares orders in an authoritarian manner. 

While responding to his query, the Indian Test vice-captain uttered the name of former Indian captain Rohit Sharma in a rather supressing tone. His cheeky response made everyone in the studio burst into laughter, including former cricketer turned commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu. Abhishek and Chahal were seated next to him, and even they could not hold on to their emotions. 

While concluding his sentence, Pant further added, "Rohit bha zara khul ke ajate hai", meaning Rohit bhai comes across with a bit of swag in him. His response attracted a very witty reaction from the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir. On a hilarious note, Gambhir advised Pant not to shy away from mentioning the former Indian captain's name, as he has already retired. The entire studio was all smiles as the conversation unfolded. 

Gautam Gambhir: "Rohit ka name le le ab to retire ho gaya hai..." 

See also: Pant rises to No. 6 in ICC Test Rankings, Bumrah holds firm at the top

Watch the video:

Look how happily this guy is saying "ab toh retire hogya" , and you want me to believe he isn't behind it pic.twitter.com/jO5JlDZKdO

— Dev 🇮🇳 (@time__square) July 5, 2025

Rohit played his last Test match in the previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 tour, where he endured a disappointing series, averaging less than 10. The 38-year-old has now retired from both the Test and the T20I arena. He will continue to feature for India in ODIs and is expected to play a pivotal role in India's buildup to the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa.

Meanwhile, Pant finds himself in the UK where India are embroiled in a closely-contested Anderson-Tendulkar Test series. Pant starred with the bat in the first Test by becoming the first Indian wicket-keeper batter to score Test centuries in both innings. Unfortunately, India went on to taste defeat in that Test match, but are now in with a solid chance of leveling the series as they lead by a monumental 244 runs at Edgbaston.

Former South International Herschelle Gibbs made a tricky comment on an Instagram post of Rohit Sharma. Cricket fans are struggling to decode the comment of Gibbs and are curious to know about the meaning of the word he used. 

'Kepke'—that's the word, or someone can say a collaboration of alphabets, because there is no such word in the dictionary that depicts the meaning of 'Kepke.' Seems like it's an innovation of Gibbs himself. But there is a meaning behind this new-look word. So, people tagged Herschelle and asked him directly in search of the meaning. The former cricketer might have enjoyed a few moments to see the public reaction. Gibbs did not try anything to clear the air. In spite, he replied, "You'll have to ask Rohit Sharma." 

Rohit Sharma, now spending his free time with his family, away from cricket, shared a video on his official Instagram account depicting different shades of his moods and lifestyle. Within 20 hours after sharing the video on Instagram, nearly 16 thousand comments had been made, and 1,353,733 likes proved the popularity of Rohit Sharma among the netizens. 

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Some of the possible meaning of the word

When Sharma's followers were praising the captain of Team India's ODI setup, Gibbs came and typed "Kepke" in the comment box. Now, there are two theories in the net universe. Some believe that 'Kepke' came from the word 'captain.' On the other hand, few people think it is actually a short form from the initials of "Keep Elegance Pouring, Keep Entertaining." But what is actually the right version, and which one is wrong? Probably Gibbs and Sharma are the only two persons who know the answer. 

Herschelle gibbs funny comment on Rohit Sharma's latest Instagram reel.😂❤️ what does kepke means? @hershybru asking from 2015🫤 pic.twitter.com/eopWJEO5Ed

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) July 3, 2025

After the conclusion of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), Sharma is now spending free time, as he has already retired from Test cricket and T20Is. He is now an active cricketer in the One Day International format. 

Virat Kohli stepped down as India’s T20I captain following the team’s poor campaign in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Shortly after, the BCCI replaced him as the ODI skipper, handing over the reins to Rohit Sharma. In 2022, Kohli also resigned as Test captain. Since taking over, Rohit Sharma has led India to notable success, including winning the T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, showcasing his strong leadership across formats.

In a chat on R Ashwin’s YouTube show, spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was asked to evaluate Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's styles of captaincy. The mystery spinner had played under both leaders, and he discussed how you can see the captaincy style of both in their respective approaches on the field. His view gave fans a closer glimpse into both players' varied styles, leadership qualities, and how, now, perhaps the team is approaching both of them differently through Rohit’s more recent and successful term as captain.

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“Virat is a true leader. When you just see him, when you just observe what he is doing and you must have also noticed the match against Pakistan, you were also there. We lost first two wickets to Shaheen Shah Afridi. But when Virat came, he stepped down and hit Shaheen for six and it was so inspiring and motivational, but how he is giving it back and all this. So Virat is exceptional, as in the way he can he can cheer up everyone. So the main thing was whenever I spoke to him his answers were very motivational and in that thing and when I spoke to Rohit Sharma, it was very tactical. So it was two different parts,” Varun Chakravarthy said.

Ashwin backs Varun's claim on the captaincy debate

Ashwin, hosting the discussion, agreed with Varun Chakaravarthy’s views and highlighted the difference in leadership styles between the two former captains. He described Virat Kohli as an inspirational figure who leads by example — always visible, intensely involved in training and practice, and motivating the team through his presence and energy. In contrast, Rohit Sharma was praised for his tactical mindset, with Ashwin noting that Rohit’s strategies are well thought out, particularly when it comes to field placements and exploiting opposition batters’ weaknesses.

Recently Kohli and Rohit became retired players of Test cricket, the retired players from T20Is. Their retirements have led to the end of an era for Indian cricket, but they have both begun an era where succession is evolving. The ongoing Test series against England displays this generation shift, as Shubman Gill becomes captain and Rishabh Pant is his vice-captain. The transfer of leadership represents a new beginning, a new chapter, as India steps towards the future.

England all-rounder Moeen Ali ranked in the top 10 ODI batters in the world. Needless to say, the list is full of star cricketers. It was a blindfold video, so Ali had no clue which name to mention to be ranked. Interestingly, Virat Kohli's name was not mentioned even once in the video. So, the list of top 10 ODI batsmen in the world Moeen Ali named was without Virat Kohli, which is definitely shocking for cricket lovers.

The video started with mentioning former Australia international David Warner's name. Ali put the opener in number 4 and then put South Africa's former Hashim Amla in the number 3 spot. Then he put Quinton De Kock and Kevin Pietersen at 6 and 5, respectively. Thus, AB de Villiers is placed at number 1 and Rohit Sharma at 2. 

Top 10 ODI batters through a blindfold test: 

1. AB de Villiers 

2. Rohit Sharma 

3. Hashim Amla 

4. David Warner 

5. Kevin Pietersen

6. Quinton De Kock

7. Chris Gayle

8. MS Dhoni 

9. Babar Azam 

10. Kumar Sangakkara

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It was a blindfold test, so Ali perhaps had no clue which name was going to pop up and when. The game is mostly dependent on assumptions and ball knowledge. A blindfold test and someone's dream team can be different. It was not a dream ODI team picked by Moeen Ali. 

Picking an all-time ODI XI will be a very difficult task for anyone to do. Over the years every cricket-playing nation has gottenheroes in the game. India has multiple legends, the same for Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, and other top countries in the ICC's list. 

Watch the video here 

Blud didn’t include his bunny Virat Kohli, in the top 10 ODI batters.😭🔥

pic.twitter.com/PTWU24kSxw

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) June 30, 2025

Only a couple of days left before India will take on England for the 2nd of the 5-match Test series. Under head coach Gautam Gambhir's observation, the boys in blue are preparing for their next assignment in Edgbaston. Before the England vs. India 2nd Test match, former India cricketer, now a cricket expert and commentator, Aakash Chopra picked his all-time favorite India Test XI.

In his combination, Chopra named some surprising entries in the line-up, and he chose not to pick some of the stars of Indian cricket. Chopra did not mention Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, or Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his team. Though he tried to create a balanced squad on pen and paper. 

For the opening spots, Chopra chose the combination of Sunil Gavaskar and Virendra Sehwag—two contradictory batters to start the innings. At numbers 3, 4, and 5, Aakash named Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli. Surprisingly, the cricket expert did not place Dhoni in the wicketkeeping position. Instead, he went to Rishabh Pant to add some extra firepower to the line.

Read More: England fined for slow over rate in opening T20I match against India

Chopra choose Pant as the keeper 

"At No. 6, I have kept Rishabh Pant. When I had made the team three or four years ago, I had kept MS Dhoni's name. However, now I feel you have to put Rishabh Pant. If the guy becomes part of India's all-time Test XI at 25 years of age, you doff your hat. He is worth his weight in gold," Chopra said in his YouTube video. 

At number 7, he picked Kapil Dev, and then at 8, Ravichandran Ashwin found his place. Ashwin and Anil Kumble are the duo for all the spin work for the specially picked XI. As seamers, Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan got Chopra's vote. 

Aakash Chopra's all-time India Test XI: Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Kapil Dev, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Zaheer Khan

June 29, 2024, is a day that will be etched in the minds and hearts of every ardent Indian cricket fan. On this day, India lifted the T20 World Cup trophy for the first time since 2007 by beating South Africa in an epic thriller. In a showdown where it all seemed to be getting out of hand, Rohit Shama & Co. scripted a miraculous comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Years of sorrow and heartbreak were finally put to rest as India clinched their maiden ICC title since 2013. 

To relive this glorious moment, the former Indian skipper posted a heartwarming video on his Twitter (Now X) account that has instantly won many hearts. Rohit himself was the center of attraction in that video, where he was heard saying that he was proud to have achieved something special. Besides, sporadic visuals of other cricketing icons such as Kohli, Axar, and Bumrah also surfaced from the video. 

See also: WATCH: Rohit Sharma spotted vacationing in Italy with wife Ritika Sajdeh amid India vs England Test series

Watch the video:

Instagram post of Captain Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma tried his best to include everyone in the video, but saar saar he is insecure.

pic.twitter.com/6bYlTq0PwC

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) June 29, 2025

India managed to remain unbeaten in that tournament and won all their games, including the final against South Africa. It was a terrific turnaround for the Men in Blue and a massive moment for the country. Not long ago, India faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 in their backyard. But Rohit's 'never-back-down' attitude helped India rise from the ashes and quash the knockout jinx once and for all.

India and South Africa locked horns in a high-voltage final in Bridgetown, Barbados. Both teams entered the final on the back of an unbeaten winning streak. The epic final saw a lot of fascinating moments. From Kohli's crucial fifty (albeit at a slower rate) to Suryakumar Yadav's match-winning catch, the match had everyone on the edge of their seats. 

Moreover, Bumrah's match-defining over, where he picked up two crucial wickets inside an over, probably proved to be a turning point in the game. With only 30 runs needed in the final five overs, no one would have anticipated India to make such a daring comeback. Bumrah emerged as a true hero in such a dire time and concluded the tournament as the highest wicket-taker maintaining an economy rate of less than 4.5 RPO.