Former India batter and ex-selector Devang Gandhi believes it will be difficult for senior pros Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to keep youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan out of India’s ODI setup for long. Gandhi pointed out that they have already proven themselves in Test cricket and could excel in the 50-over format if given the opportunity.
Gandhi told TOI “How will you make players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, among others, sit out when they have shown how well they can adapt? The bigger transition is from T20s to Tests. Once a player has done well in Test cricket and has the power game, ODIs should come easier to them. It is very important that the selectors and the team management sit together and take a call,”.
Gandhi stressed that regular game-time is crucial and urged the selectors to honestly assess whether Virat and Rohit can remain at their peak over the next two years.
“If, say, in a year’s time, we come to a situation where one of them is not firing and we need a replacement, the team management may not have enough time to prepare a player for the job. There’s absolutely no doubt about the contribution of Rohit and Virat. But time doesn’t wait for anybody.”
The captaincy question is equally important, and the selectors must make a decision. Gill has already proven himself ready to lead in Tests and, given his current form, is arguably India’s best ODI batsman, averaging 59.04 with a strike rate of 99.56. with a strike rate of 99.56.
With the rapid evolution of the game, the selectors face a crucial decision regarding the balance between experience and youth. Gandhi noted that if Kohli and Rohit struggle to perform, the team management may not have enough time to prepare a replacement. The captaincy issue also looms large, as Shubman Gill has shown he is capable of leading the team, further complicating the decision-making process.
His performances have earned him the team’s respect, making the ODI captaincy a natural fit.
“There’s absolutely no doubt about the contribution of Rohit and Virat. But time doesn’t wait for anybody,” Gandhi added.
With Rohit and Virat — who retired from T20Is in 2024 and stepped away from Test cricket earlier this year — the speculation about their ODI future has been rife. For now, though, it appears they may give one final push to the format they dominated for over 15 years.
If they wish to extend their ODI careers beyond October, both may need to feature in domestic one-day competitions like the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December, as well as the ‘A’ series against Australia and South Africa, in addition to international fixture.
t this stage of their careers, however, there remains uncertainty over whether these legends would be willing to endure the grind of domestic one-day cricket in far-flung venues once again.
