Who Will Be India’s Next ODI Captain? 4 Strong Contenders for India’s ODI Captaincy

With Rohit Sharma at the end of his career, the conversation about who will be next ODI captain is heating up. The selectors will have choices to make with lots of different talents. They will look at experienced players (e.g. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya) and also new young stars (e.g. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant) who will ensure India’s captaincy future is in good hands.

Here are four practical candidates who can take over as the India’s Next ODI Captain after Rohit Sharma.

Also Read: India vs New Zealand 2026 Schedule Announced: 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is in January

KL Rahul – A Solid Backup

KL Rahul has filled in as India’s leader in ODIs before and is someone the team can count on when Rohit Sharma isn’t around. Because he’s both a wicketkeeper and a batter, he sees the game from a pretty good angle. Rahul stays cool under pressure and can switch things up as needed, which makes him a good pick to lead the team for a bit, like during a transition.

Why pick KL Rahul?

• He’s led the ODI team already.
• He’s a wicketkeeper-batsman you can trust.
• He’s got a good sense of what’s going on from his spot behind the wickets.

Hardik Pandya – The Aggressive Leader

There is no doubt that Hardik Pandya has displayed his leadership skills in T20Is and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Being an aggressive leader, he has already led India in the limited-overs formats. Besides being a great all-rounder, his bold captaincy could go a long way in ODIs.

What makes Hardik Pandya the right choice?

• IPL-winning skipper
• Courageous and aggressive leader
• Evidence of success in limited-overs formats

Shubman Gill – The Future of Indian Cricket

At 25 years of age, Shubman Gill is already one of India’s most stable ODI players, given the team’s relative youth in ODI cricket. He is widely viewed as a long-term option for the captaincy position. To nurture Gill as a leader early in the process would help build a strong leadership around him for the next decade. With his youth, and maturity, he presents an interesting opportunity.

Why Shubman Gill?

• Young and consistent performer
• Captaincy option long-term
• Calm but aggressive approach

Rishabh Pant – An Exciting Choice

Since coming back strong from his injury, Rishabh Pant is back to being a key player in India’s batting lineup. He’s famous for his bold way of batting. Plus, he’s led the Delhi Capitals team in the IPL before. His lively and open way of leading could really give the ODI team a boost.

Why pick Rishabh Pant?

• He’s a brave middle-order batter.
• He’s got experience captaining in the IPL.
• He brings a young, upbeat vibe.

India is not short of leaders as they have many potential captains other than Rohit Sharma. No matter if the selectors pick the steadiness of KL Rahul, the fire of Hardik Pandya, the creative vision of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, the leadership of the team looks very promising.

Rohit Sharma’s epic career is almost over with, so the big question of who will be next Indian ODI captain is what we have left.