After the first Test against the West Indies, which India won by an innings and 140 runs, Rohit was replaced by his opening partner Shubman Gill as the side\u2019s ODI captain. With the captain's armband no longer around him, Rohit\u2019s returns with the bat will be keenly seen when the series begins in Perth on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cRohit being axed as captain was an interesting move from afar. After such a great win in the Champions Trophy, I suppose the selectors are purely looking at the numbers. At 38, with a couple of years to go before the World Cup, he becomes a bit vulnerable purely because of his age.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe talent and class are always on display, and so is that magnificent body of work, not only in terms of his own performances, but also India\u2019s success as a team. Very similar to the Virat and Dhoni eras, lots of success.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut I guess it\u2019s a bit of an insurance policy to bring on Shubman Gill, ensure he\u2019s in-charge across all formats, and particularly help him learn leadership while Rohit Sharma is still in the dressing room. It would just be a bonus if Rohit makes it to the next World Cup,\u201d said Hayden on JioStar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also expressed excitement at the prospect of seeing Rohit and Virat Kohli back in action after last playing international cricket during the 2025 Champions Trophy triumph. \u201cBetween Rohit and Virat, you\u2019re talking about almost 600 international games, an abundance of experience and workload. I really think they\u2019ll have a great opportunity to perform on good tracks at the start of the Australian summer.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEveryone is very excited to see them Down Under, and I expect them to be at their very best. Thirteen thousand runs for Virat, Rohit averaging nearly 50 in one-day cricket across 273 matches, it\u2019s an exciting prospect.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On India\u2019s current ODI setup, Hayden praised the team\u2019s blend of youth and experience, and pointed out Yashasvi Jaiswal as a key figure in the line-up for the future. \u201cIn my opinion, success in ODI cricket depends on having the right mix of youth and experience, and that\u2019s exactly what Team India have.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe youthful energy of someone like Jaiswal, alongside the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is vital. The same goes for bowling; you need that young, athletic energy because 50 overs is a long time in the field. India has a great balance right now, a blend of athleticism, passion, and experience. And I\u2019m sure some of the senior players will already have one eye on the 2027 World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On India\u2019s current ODI setup, Hayden praised the team\u2019s blend of youth and experience, and pointed out Yashasvi Jaiswal as a key figure in the line-up for the future. \u201cIn my opinion, success in ODI cricket depends on having the right mix of youth and experience, and that\u2019s exactly what Team India have.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOptus Stadium in Perth is an absolutely stunning venue, and with over a million Indians living and working here, there will be incredible support. They\u2019ll celebrate Virat, they\u2019ll celebrate Rohit, and even though many are Australians, they\u2019ll want to see India win.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n