By: Sports DeskUpdated: October 6, 2025 08:30 AM IST 3 min readRohit Sharma walks out for a training session before a Test match against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)Rohit Sharma’s tenure as India’s ODI captain has come to an end, with Shubman Gill being announced as the new skipper ahead of the team’s three-match series in Australia on Saturday. The 38-year-old, however, remains part of the team that is travelling Down Under for the series and former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim has questioned why Rohit is in the squad at all for the tour if he is unlikely to be part of the team’s plans for the 2027 World Cup.“If you haven’t made him the captain, then why are you still keeping him in the team?” said Karim, who has also been part of the Indian selection panel, on the Youtube channel Kadak. “It clearly shows that you don’t see him as part of the future, that he won’t be there for the 2027 World Cup. In that case, you shouldn’t keep a player in the team whom you don’t see as part of your plans for 2027. Then whether he remains captain or not, or even a player or not, doesn’t really matter. That’s why I said the selectors have acted in great haste with Rohit Sharma, and there was no need for it.”India chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that Rohit and Kohli had been picked simply because they are available in this format. However, he refrained from talking about their roles going into the 2027 World Cup. “I mean, that’s the format they are at the moment playing (Virat and Rohit). We picked them, but as far as 2027 World Cup is concerned. I don’t think we need to talk about it today. Obviously, with the captaincy change, that’s generally the thought,” he said.ALSO READ | Ajit Agarkar’s chess move for Indian cricket: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can play, but performances will decide their tenureAgarkar also said that the rule that was laid a few months ago of players having to play domestic cricket whenever they are available applies on Rohit and Kohli as well. “I think that we’ve made it clear a couple of years back now, that whenever the guys are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. That’s the only way you’ll keep yourself sharp and playing cricket, if you’ve got a long enough break. Whether that’s possible with the international cricket you’re playing or not, that only time will tell. But if guys are free, I mean, that’s, they should be playing domestic cricket,” said Agarkar.Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Rohit Sharma