“It’s not a phone call” - Former Indian assistant coach opens up on selectors removing Rohit Sharma as ODI captain

Former Team India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has opened up on Rohit Sharma being sacked as the ODI captain for the forthcoming Australia tour, which is scheduled to start on October 19 in Perth.

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Speaking on Star Sports, Nayar hoped that there was proper communication between selectors and Rohit Sharma regarding the change in the ODI captaincy. For the unversed, selectors, head coach, and team management decided to appoint Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain to give him enough time before the ICC ODI World Cup in 2027.

"For me, there’s only one thing. Look, as long as that discussion happened with him, as long as he was on the same page, if he also said, 'Yes, we have to look forward, we want to give Shubman Gill a chance, and I’ll be there in that dressing room with you to help him through it,' then I am all for it,” Nayar said on Star Sports.

Furthermore, Nayar felt that the decision to make Gill the new ODI captain was a great decision by the selection committee. In the press conference, after announcing the squad, Agarkar asserted that there was clear communication with Rohit about the captaincy change.

"I think it’s a great decision because you’ve kept the captain (Rohit) in the loop. You’ve given him that responsibility — 'help us take this team forward like you did till now.' I feel he deserves that much," Nayar added.

"And that’s a question only he can answer, because for me that’s the only thing. Apart from that, any decision you take — it’s not wrong. Shubman Gill, we all knew someday he was going to be captain, and he should be, because he’s that kind of player,” he observed.

"But for me, there’s just one thing: if you’re going to do it, then do it right. If you’re going to have this communication, then — I always believe — communication takes time. It’s not a phone call. You sit together and talk it through," he concluded.

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