Shubman Gill has been named the captain of India’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Australia, replacing Rohit Sharma. While both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are still part of the squad, their future in the 50-over format remains in question. Gill, who already leads India in Tests, has been groomed as a future leader for some time, and his consistent performances across formats have cemented his place in the Indian team.

Notably, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have already stepped away from the T20I and Test formats. Meanwhile, former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has said that both Rohit and Kohli need to be in cracking form in order to keep their place in the team for the ODI World Cup in 2027.

"It's not a guarantee both of them will be there for that next World Cup. That's maybe part of the thinking when they made Shubman Gill the ODI captain. He has a good chance of being there, young gun, in incredible form and a fantastic leader," de Villiers said, speaking on his own YouTube channel.

"I think this was the right move, to still have Rohit and Virat. Shubman Gill will learn from two of the most experienced Indian players of all time, high quality, legendary players. It will be fantastic for Shubman to have them around. It’s for the tour, which is actually just around the corner. So we’ll be buckling up for some high entertainment and a great series," de Villiers said.

AB de Villiers further emphasised that both stalwarts will need to produce runs to strengthen their chances for the World Cup in 2027.

"The kind of competition Team India has these days and the quality, these two know they have to go out and score runs. It would be a great asset for Team India in the World Cup to have them there. But the priority is to score runs," de Villiers said.