Rahul Replaces Gill as ODI Captain

Team India has announced a surprising change in leadership for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, as KL Rahul has been appointed the new stand-in captain. This unexpected development comes after Shubman Gill, who recently began his captaincy journey, was ruled out due to a neck injury sustained during the first Test in Kolkata. His early exit opened the door for a fresh decision from team management.

Many expected the selectors to hand back the captaincy to Rohit Sharma, given his vast experience and historic success as India’s white-ball leader. However, the management opted to back Rahul, who has previously captained India in limited-overs formats and has been praised for his calm, composed leadership style. The decision has sparked discussion across the cricketing community as India heads into a crucial overseas assignment.

The ODI series begins on 30 November, though India will be missing key players including Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy. Despite the absences, the presence of senior pillars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is expected to add balance and competitiveness as Rahul leads India in this important three-match series.