The Rohit Sharma era in Indian white-ball cricket has drawn to a close, with Shubman Gill stepping in as the new ODI captain ahead of the Australia tour. Sharma's tenure, which began in December 2021, has been marked by significant achievements and a noticeable shift in India's approach to limited-overs cricket.
Sharma took over the reins from Virat Kohli, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) then wanting a single captain for both white-ball formats. Sharma's extensive captaincy experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he led the Mumbai Indians to five titles, made him a natural choice.
Under Sharma's leadership, India achieved a remarkable win percentage in ODIs. He captained the team in 56 matches, securing 42 wins, suffering 12 losses, with one tie and one no-result. This translates to a winning percentage of approximately 75%, the highest among all Indian captains who have led the team in at least 50 ODI matches. Globally, this figure places him second only to Clive Lloyd, the legendary West Indies captain.
Sharma's impact was particularly evident in major ICC tournaments. He led India to victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where the team remained undefeated throughout the tournament. India also won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under his captaincy, becoming the first team to win the tournament without losing a match. Furthermore, India reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, remaining unbeaten until the final match against Australia.
In addition to these achievements, Sharma also guided India to two Asia Cup titles in 2018 and 2023, solidifying their dominance in regional cricket. Across ICC events as captain, Sharma's India won 27 matches and lost only three, marking the best win-loss ratio for any captain with at least 15 games across three different ICC tournaments.
Sharma's success as captain was not just about his leadership skills but also his batting prowess. As captain, he amassed 2,080 runs in ODIs at an average of 59.42 in matches India won. His aggressive, free-flowing batting style set the tone for the team.
While Sharma's ODI captaincy record is impressive, his tenure in Test cricket was less consistent. He led India in 24 Test matches, winning 12 and losing 9. Although he started strong with four consecutive home Test wins and a first overseas Test win against the West Indies, series losses against New Zealand and Australia impacted his record. He retired from Tests in May 2025.
Despite the loss in the 2023 World Cup final, Sharma's leadership is credited with transforming India's white-ball fortunes. He instilled a fearless approach and fostered a winning culture within the team. His ability to remain composed under pressure and make shrewd tactical decisions were crucial to India's success.
Sharma's legacy as a captain is secure, with his name etched among the pantheon of great Indian leaders. While MS Dhoni's trophy cabinet may be more extensive, Sharma's win percentage and aggressive approach have made a compelling case for his effectiveness as a modern limited-overs captain. His contributions have been acknowledged, with the selectors keen to give the new captain, Shubman Gill, sufficient time to prepare for the 2027 World Cup. Sharma's era may be over, but his impact on Indian cricket will be felt for years to come.
