Rohit Sharma in ODIs Under Shubman Gill: Will His Batting Style Change?

With Shubman Gill now captaining India in ODIs, attention turns to Rohit Sharma, the former skipper who revolutionized India’s white-ball approach with a fearless, high-risk batting style. Can the 38-year-old maintain the aggressive tempo that defined his leadership, or will he adapt under the new captaincy?

Rohit’s approach, especially after the 10-wicket semi-final loss in the 2022 T20 World Cup, emphasized impact over caution. Leading from the top, he inspired India to adopt a risk-laden batting strategy that paid dividends during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he scored 597 runs at a strike rate of 125 – the highest among the top-10 run-scorers. This aggressive style continued into the 2024 T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy, helping India end an 11-year wait for a major ICC trophy.

Now, without the captain’s responsibility, questions arise: will Rohit continue to play at the same intensity? Will the Gill-led management, guided by Gautam Gambhir, allow him to take similar risks if they don’t pay off?

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa suggested on the Good Areas Live podcast that Rohit may adopt a slightly more circumspect approach, balancing aggression with accumulation. “Rohit has upped the ante in recent years, but now he might play with a bit more caution since he’s no longer the captain,” Uthappa said. He noted that India’s management emphasizes selection on merit, which could influence Rohit’s risk-taking decisions.

Uthappa highlighted the importance of timing and pacing, recalling the 2023 World Cup final. “It’s 50 overs; a batter of Rohit’s calibre needs to bat long. Even if he doesn’t hit every big shot, his presence at the crease can turn games.”

Since 2023, Rohit has averaged 48.97 with a strike rate of 117.23 in ODIs, showing the continuation of his aggressive mindset. Fitness will be crucial for him to compete at the highest level and remain a key part of India’s squad leading to the 2027 World Cup.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized that the focus remains on performance. “Rohit and Virat Kohli have been scoring runs consistently. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t. They need to keep performing for the team,” he said.

As India returns to international cricket after a seven-month hiatus, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the upcoming three-ODI series against Australia from October 19 to 25, testing how the veterans adapt under Shubman Gill’s captaincy.