Shubman Gill captaincy move: SouravGanguly refuses to believe Rohit Sharma was sacked

Shubman Gill was made the new ODI skipper, replacing Rohit Sharma; Ganguly said this has happened with every big captain.

Shubman Gill has been announced as the new ODI skipper for India, replacing Rohit Sharma, under whom India has won several tournaments. Rohit, who led India to back-to-back ICC titles, including the Champions Trophy this year, was replaced by Gill. However, former BCCI president SouravGanguly has discarded the theory that Rohit was ‘sacked.’

SouravGanguly doesn’t believe Rohit Sharma was sacked.

Ganguly recently said he doesn’t believe that former India captain Rohit Sharma was ‘sacked’ from being a captain. He said that it has happened to every big captain towards the twilight of their career. The former India captain said that he and Rahul Dravid both faced the same scenario in their career. Shubman Gill is now the new ODI captain for India, and his first assignment will be the tour of Australia, where India will play three ODIs, starting October 19. Speaking to India Today recently, Ganguly refused to accept Rohit was sacked from his captaincy position, and instead reckoned it was a mutual decision after the selectors had a word with Rohit. The India legend explained that Rohit’s age played a significant factor in the BCCI making the big call.

What did SouravGanguly say on the matter?

He said, “I’m sure Rohit must have been spoken to. I’m not sure if it’s a sacking. I’m sure it’s a mutual discussion. Rohit has been an outstanding leader; he’s won the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy. Performance is not the issue with Rohit Sharma. In 2027, Rohit will be 40. That’s a big number in sport. It happened to me, it happened to Dravid. It happens to everyone. Even Shubman Gill will face the same at 40. Everyone in sport has to finish someday.”

Ganguly, the newly announced CAB president, also backed the selectors’ decision to name Gill as the new ODI skipper. He said, “Not a bad decision to promote Gill. He’s shown a lot of talent in England. I think it’s a fair call. Rohit can keep playing while you groom a young captain.”