Rohit Sharma, who led India to the final of World Cup 2023 and won the title in ICC Champions Trophy 2025, is not likely to continue leading India in ICC World Cup 2027. According to some reports, the management wants him to leave the ODI captaincy after the upcoming ODI tour if he will to be in the contention for the 2027 event. Rohit leaving the ODI captaincy will create a huge, shiny void and an even larger question on who is next to lead India in One Day Internationals (ODIs)? Two top contenders are at the forefront of the discussion, and they are Shreyas Iyer and India's present Test skipper, Shubman Gill. One contributes hard-won experience and proven game in pressure tournaments and holds down India's middle order. The other, a run-machine opener, provides young zip and a long runway as a leader in all formats. It is not about today's performance; it is about creating India's white-ball persona over the next four years. The Case for Shreyas Iyer Stability in India's Middle Order At No. 4 in ODIs, the job is usually the glue that keeps the innings intact, and Shreyas Iyer has been very good there. His record places him among the most reliable modern-day middle-order batter. In ODIs, Iyer has accumulated 2,845 runs at 48.22, with five centuries and 22 half-centuries. That mixture of consistency and resilience is just what coaches and selectors like about 50-over cricket. Also Read | Aftermath of backlashes? Reports claims Shreyas Iyer as ODI skip post-Rohit Sharma Experience in ICC Tournaments When it comes to ICC tournaments, Iyer is an established performer. His career-best season was in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, where he accumulated 530 runs at an average of 66.2, hitting at 113 with the top score of 128*. He was among India's most consistent player during the ICC event on the home turf. He carried that form into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he scored 243 runs in five matches at 48.6, again becoming India’s middle-order rock. His ability to accelerate under pressure, play spin and pace both excellently and adapt to situations proves that he delivers when the stakes are highest. Iyer’s Captaincy Experience Leadership is another area where Iyer has a big plus. He has captained three teams in Indian Premier League (IPL) to huge success, taking Delhi Capitals to the 2020 final, Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title, and Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final. Such periods of leadership have honed his field-setting skill and tactical sense, attributes that would automatically translate into the 50-over format where long-term planning is the key. Shreyas Iyer's Batting Record (as a captain) Although Iyer has not captained India in any format of the game, he has been one of the most successful skippers in the history of IPL. Not just with the leadership skills, Iyer has also delivered a solid performance with the bat. Below are the stats of Shreyas while leading in IPL. Criteria Numbers Matches 87 Innings 86 Runs 2598 Average 36.59 Strike Rate 137.53 100s 0 50s 19 HS 97* This numbers clearly displays Iyer's ability to balance both leadership and batting at the same time. Also Read | Who saved Rohit Sharma's cricket career? Roadblocks in Iyer's Path But Iyer's path has not been smooth. A severe back injury led him to stay out of IPL 2023, questioning his stamina. Then, his exclusion from BCCI central contracts in February 2024 following a disagreement over involvement in issues in the domestic cricket raised off-field doubts. Though these do not diminish from his cricketing skills and ability, but the stability with selectors and the board is integral for a long-term skipper. Why Iyer is the Man for the Moment Despite these concerns, Iyer remains the ready-made choice for now. He’s at his batting peak, occupies the crucial No. 4 slot, and has proven himself in ICC tournaments. A natural crisis-handler with a sharp cricket brain, he offers India a battle-tested leader for immediate success. The Case for Shubman Gill Shubman’s Road to Excellence While Iyer is the reliable arm, Shubman Gill is the bet for the long run with contemporary firepower. Not many young batters have had a year like Gill's in ODIs in 2023, accumulating 1,584 runs at an average of 63.36 and strike rate of 105.45, the top run-getter of the year. That unique blend of volume, average, and strike rate is world-class, only AB de Villiers in 2015 had superior figures among 1,000+ run scorers in a year. Gill is also breaking records at record speed. He became the quickest to 2,000 runs in ODI (38 innings) and 2,500 runs (50 innings), with eight tons in 55 innings. During the 2023 World Cup, he made 354 runs in nine innings, and during the 2025 Champions Trophy, he scored 188 runs in five innings. Also Read | Indian cricketers by brand value in 2025 Gill's Leadership Exposure Gill is also not a newcomer to captaincy. He captained Gujarat Titans in the IPL, has been India's T20I captain with a winning record, and is already the regular Test skipper. His first full Test series as captain in England concluded with a gritty 2-2 draw, reflecting his composed communication and tactical acumen, virtues teammates have universally acclaimed. Shubman's Batting Stats (as a captain) At the young age, Shubman climb the stairs of success at a rapid pace and was soon appointed as the skipper of Gujarat Titans after Hardik Pandya left the side in 2024. Since the, Gill has led GT in two seasons (2024 and 2025) and has delivered exceptionally well with the bat. (Gill's Batting Stats as Skipper in IPL) Criteria Numbers Matches 27 Innings 27 Runs 1076 Average 44.83 Strike Rate 152.4 100s 1 50s 8 HS 104 So far in the International cricket, Shubman Gill has led India in 10 matches, five each in T20Is and Tests. Below are the stats for both. Format Matches Innings Runs Average Strike Rate 100s 50s HS T20Is 5 5 170 42.5 125.92 0 2 66 Test 5 10 754 75.4 65.56 4 0 269 A Decade-Long Captaincy Option At 25, Gill is a long-term captaincy prospect. Promoting him would fit India's possible "one-captain for all white-ball formats" vision. As an opener, he sets the tone for the innings from the first ball, establishing India's template of aggressive batting for the years to come. Having youth on his side, India could comfortably go through one complete ICC cycle, if not two, under his leadership. Caveats for Shubman Gill All the same, captaincy is a load to carry by an opener. Blending leadership with batting, particularly in subcontinent conditions, is no simple feat. His 2023 World Cup stint was disrupted by illness, and fans were left to await a landmark ICC tournament performance. These are not disqualifications, but they highlight his comparative inexperience in big-match leadership. Also Read | Shubman Gill Set to Play Virat Kohli’s Role for India in Asia Cup Role Fit vs Timeline: What Does India Really Need? This isn't a question of "who's the better player," but role fit and timing. Role Fit (Strategy): Middle-order batter more ofter preferred to lead an ODI side because there they are right in the midst of match-defining overs. Iyer's No. 4 role naturally puts him in that kind of space. Gill, being an opener, sets the tone for the innings and spearheads India's aggressive approach, but captaincy may be pushing his bandwidth. Timeline (2025–2027): India are constructing towards the 2027 World Cup. If priority is short-term tournament success, Iyer is the plug-and-play asset with World Cup 2023 evidence. If it is long-term consistency, Gill is the investment with performance trends to support it. Leadership Parity: Iyer's IPL success and big tournament experience provide situational capital in times of pressure. On the other hand, Gill's T20I victories and IPL captaincy shows that he's quick to learn with a contemporary mindset. Risk Management: Iyer has injury and contract baggage; Gill is inexperience in high-pressure captaincy. Shreyas Iyer vs Shubman Gill - Who Should Lead India in ODIs? The wisest strategy perhaps is a phased handover. Short-term: Give the ODI captaincy to Shreyas Iyer. His recent form, No. 4 experience, and tried-and-tested ICC record make him the safest bet for instant results. Make Shubman Gill ODI vice-captain to prepare him. Long-term: Shift to Gill before the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. His run-scoring wizardry and youthfulness offer India the possibility of stability across formats to avoid any mid-cycle leadership reset. Either way, India is not selecting between weak alternatives. They're selecting between "now" and "tomorrow."