Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa said it will be interesting to note Shubman Gill’s team playing style in the three-match ODI series against Australia. Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, the white-ball teams took an aggressive approach with the captain leading from the front as an opener.
India adopted an aggressive brand of cricket after the 2022 T20 World Cup and thus the Men in Blue were able to reap rewards. Rohit led India to glory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. The former skipper had a successful record as ODI captain, leading India in 56 ODIs, out of which the team won 42 matches, lost 12, tied one, and had one no-result.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has led in only six List A games, and he would look to get the best out of his players.
Robin Uthappa said on his YouTube Channel, “It will be interesting to see what kind of approach he takes to ODI cricket right now. What are the norms or standards that Shubman Gill sets for the ODI side. What brand of cricket do they wanna play, and I think there’ll be a slight adjustment there, especially with Rohit at the top with Shubman.”
“It also gives Shubman to kind of get into that space and kind of find himself, as far as the captain is concerned of this format as well. So, pretty interesting to see, I am looking forward to that Australia series,” he added.
Uthappa said Rohit Sharma will understand his new role in the team as a player and the selectors, as well as the team’s think tank, would have had a word with the veteran opener.
“Gracefully, and I think he understands. I think the conversation perhaps if the conversations had with him, I don’t think it would have happened without that… Go back to focusing on making sure he performs his role to the best of his ability and maximize his role because right now he also has the dearth of match practice for that matter, right?”
The former flamboyant batter wants Rohit to play according to the match situation and deliver at the top of the order.
“I want him to be able to use the ebb and flow [take pedal off the accelerator] because the value of Rohit Sharma in the course of an ODI game is so immense that you don’t want to lose him, especially when the wickets are falling around him.”
“His effectiveness and his impact during the course of a game, especially a One Day game, the guy can turn a One Day game on its head, right? And I don’t think he’s a role player. I think he’s a match-winner… I don’t want him to play the anchor’s role,” he added.
The first ODI between India and Australia will be played on 19th October.
