The outcome of the Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand on Sunday may have significant implications for Indian cricket. Central to this situation is captain Rohit Sharma, whose future in leadership roles may be clarified in the upcoming weeks, as reported by the Times of India.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly eager to establish a stable captaincy to facilitate planning for the next two years. This may lead to difficult discussions regarding the potential transition away from Rohit as captain in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches, with the board postponing the announcement of new central contracts until after the final against New Zealand.

According to the report, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have engaged in discussions with both the BCCI and Rohit concerning the future direction of the team following India's tour of Australia earlier this year.

"Rohit still believes he has more cricket ahead of him. He has been advised to share his future plans. The decision to retire rests with him, but there will be further discussions regarding his captaincy. Rohit recognizes the importance of having a stable captain as the team prepares for a World Cup. Conversations have also taken place with Kohli, but there appears to be less urgency surrounding his situation," a source from the BCCI informed the newspaper.

The board is said to be keen on evaluating the team's performance in the Champions Trophy after a challenging Test season, prompting a reassessment of Grade A+ contracts currently held by Rohit, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Given the BCCI's policy of favoring players who excel across all three formats for A+ contracts, concerns have arisen regarding Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja, all of whom have retired from T20 Internationals and encountered difficulties in the red-ball format. Nevertheless, a strong performance in the Champions Trophy could potentially secure their positions.

“The board will await Rohit’s decision following the Champions Trophy. Should he choose to retire, the board will determine the necessary steps. It is important to acknowledge his recent success in the T20 format.”

Past transitions

In recent years, MS Dhoni resigned from his position as the white-ball captain two years prior to the 2019 ODI World Cup, which provided Virat Kohli with sufficient time to acclimate to the role. In a similar vein, Kohli stepped down from the T20I captaincy in 2021, thereby facilitating Rohit Sharma's ascension. The 37-year-old also assumed the ODI captaincy in the same year, granting Rohit a two-year period to guide the team in preparation for the 2023 World Cup.

With the 2027 World Cup just two years away, ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill continues to evolve as a leader.

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