‘Shubman Gill didn’t want captaincy, BCCI pressurised him’: Mohammad Kaif’s explosive claim after Rohit Sharma’s removal as ODI captain

In a stunning revelation, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has claimed that Shubman Gill was not keen on taking the ODI captaincy, but the BCCI and selectors pressurised him into accepting the role. The comments come just two days after the BCCI replaced Rohit Sharma with Gill as India’s new ODI skipper, a decision that has triggered massive debate among fans and experts alike.

Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, said the leadership transition was expected but happened “too early.” He added, “This was on expected lines, but I thought it would happen after the 2027 World Cup. Gill is a quality player and has worked on his fitness, but giving him so much responsibility in such a short span could backfire.”

According to Kaif, the young opener has already been burdened with multiple roles — captaining in Tests, batting at No. 4, and serving as vice-captain in the Asia Cup. Now, being made the ODI captain adds extra pressure. “A player never asks for captaincy. Everyone knows Gill didn’t want it. The selectors, including Ajit Agarkar, have pressurised him,” Kaif alleged.

Kaif also expressed sympathy for Rohit Sharma, who recently led India to a Champions Trophy triumph but now finds himself stripped of leadership duties. “What wrong has Rohit done? He didn’t even get a full four-year run as captain. When you snatch captaincy, it’s like a player losing his right hand,” Kaif remarked.

As India prepares for the upcoming ODI series against Australia starting October 19, all eyes will be on how Gill handles his new role and how Rohit adapts to focusing solely on his batting.