Rohit Sharma remains integral to India’s ODI team: Shubman Gill

Rohit Sharma is still a cornerstone of India’s ODI team, Shubman Gill insisted on Tuesday.

What did Shubman Gill say?

Gill, India’s ODI captain, told reporters that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain “very integral” to the team’s white-ball plans. His remarks came after the latest ODI squad was announced for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

Why does Rohit Sharma matter now?

At 39, Rohit leads by example with 40 ODI centuries and a strike rate above 95. His presence stabilises the top order and anchors the middle overs, even as younger batters push for starts. Gill’s comments underline that experience still trumps rotation in key series.

What’s the squad context?

The selectors named a 15-man ODI squad on 9 July, omitting Rohit and Kohli for the first two games to manage workloads. But Gill stressed their roles remain unchanged once the series ramps up. The squad includes youngsters like Tilak Varma and Sai Sudharsan, yet Rohit’s return is treated as a given.

What happens next?

India face Sri Lanka in three ODIs starting 18 July in Colombo. Rohit is expected to join the squad for the third game, if not earlier. Gill added that the team’s balance hinges on having both veterans in the dugout and at the crease.

The selectors will monitor workloads closely, but Gill made it clear: Rohit Sharma isn’t going anywhere.