‘We need them’- Shubman Gill shuts down Rohit-Kohli retirement buzz:India’s new ODI skipper wishes to maintain same team culture as ‘Rohit bhai’

India’s newly-appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill, on Thursday, said he would look to get hold of the “calmness” that his predecessor Rohit Sharma brought to the dressing room when he takes charge of the format, starting with the tour of Australia later this month. The 25-year-old Gill, who already leads the Indian Test team, will begin his stint as ODI captain during a three-match series in Australia from 19 October to 25 October. Currently, India Test skipper is all set to lead Men in Blue to face West Indies in the second Test at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi. However, the Australia tour will be a task for him as a first-time ODI captain, and Gill wants to ace it like the last India ODI captain, Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill wishes to share the same bond with the Indian team as Rohit While speaking to PTI, when Shubman Gill was questioned about his expanded role as new ODI captain ahead of the Australia tour, the 26-year-old said on Thursday: The calmness of Rohit bhai and the friendships that he created among the group, I want to imbibe that. Apart from clearing up his priority on maintaining the environment of the dressing room, India Test skipper also silenced the buzzing rumours around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement from the ODI format after the Australia tour. Notably, rumours were swirling around that it might be Rohit-Kohli’s last series in the One Day format. Gill shuts down speculation around Rohit, Kohli’s ODI future Gill also shut down the speculation surrounding the future of Rohit and star batter Virat Kohli, both of whom are now only available in the ODI format, having retired from T20 Internationals and Tests. While speaking to PTI on Thursday, Gill asserted: The two have won so many games for India. Very few have so much skill and experience. We need them. However, it is not just as a player that Shubman Gill and the Indian team need the experience and skill of the star cricketers. Rather, former Australia captain recently asserted that even the cricketing world needs to witness Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli’s marvel as player on Australian soil and urged the fans to come out to watch these legends of the game. Ex-Australia skipper requests Aussies to watch Rohit, Kohli Ahead of India’s tour to Australia for both white-ball formats from October 19 onwards, former Australian captain Brad Haddin encouraged the Aussie public to go out and watch Indian icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in action in what could be their last tour Down Under, although Gill denied such claims. While speaking on the ‘Willow Talk Podcast’, Haddin said, “Get out and watch them (Rohit and Virat). They are greats of the game, and I think this will be the last time they are on our shores. So, do not miss the opportunity. You have got (Shubman) Gill, who is captain now, that might free Rohit Sharma up to just play.” Notably, India’s white-ball tour to Australia will consist of three ODIs and five T20Is. The main attraction of the ODI series, without a doubt, would be the return of Rohit and Virat after the ICC Champions Trophy win in March. Having retired from T20Is last year after ICC T20 World Cup win, the ‘Ro-Ko’ announced their Test retirements ahead of India’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 starting series against England away from home after a run of poor form and failure to take the team to WTC finals this year.