Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has voiced his disappointment over the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to remove Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain ahead of the upcoming Australia tour. The selectors announced on Saturday, October 4, that Shubman Gill would lead the team in the 50-over format, replacing Rohit, who guided India to a Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.

Harbhajan Singh surprised by decision to sideline Rohit Sharma as skipper

Speaking on Star Sports, Harbhajan admitted that while Gill’s promotion presents a fresh challenge for the youngster, he was surprised to see Rohit named in the squad only as a player and not as captain.

Rohit’s removal marks the end of nearly a four-year tenure as India’s full-time ODI captain. He had already stepped down from T20Is in 2024 and Tests in 2025, and this latest change signals a significant transition phase in Indian cricket leadership.

“Gill has been given another responsibility to lead the team in ODIs as well. Of course, it’s going to be a new challenge for him. He hasn’t done that before. Rohit obviously has been replaced as a captain by Shubman, and Rohit is someone who holds a very good record in white-ball cricket. To be honest, it is a little bit shocking for me to see Rohit not being captain but still selected as a player,” Harbhajan said.

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‘Rohit should have been given at least this tour’- Harbhajan on Rohit

Harbhajan, who shared the dressing room with Rohit during his playing days, felt the senior opener deserved the chance to lead the team for at least the Australia tour given his recent success as captain. Rohit’s leadership has been widely credited for India’s consistency in limited-overs cricket. Under his captaincy, India won several bilateral series and ended a long ICC trophy drought with the T20 World Cup 2024 win and Champions Trophy victory earlier in 2025.

“I thought if at all he was going to Australia, he would have been captain again. He just won the Champions Trophy and other tournaments as well, so I think he’s been one of the pillars of Indian cricket in white-ball formats. He should have been given at least this tour,” the veteran off-spinner added.

Also READ: Fans go frenzy as Shubman Gill becomes India’s new ODI captain for the Australia tour