Colombo, Oct 6: Sri Lankan cricket commentator Roshan Abeysinghe has lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for appointing Shubman Gill as India’s new One Day International (ODI) captain. Abeysinghe described the decision as an “excellent move,” highlighting Gill’s commendable leadership during India’s recent tour of England. Despite leading a relatively young team without stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Gill managed to inspire his side to a 2-2 draw in the series, surpassing expectations .The BCCI announced the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming bilateral series against Australia, set to commence on October 19. Notably, Rohit Sharma, who has been a long-standing captain, has been replaced by Gill for the ODI format, while Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as his deputy. This marks a significant shift in leadership dynamics, with Gill continuing his role as Test captain and vice-captain in T20Is .
Abeysinghe further emphasized the importance of consistency in leadership roles across formats, noting that the mindset and strategies for ODIs and T20Is are not vastly different. He expressed confidence that Gill’s leadership qualities will serve the team well in the upcoming series against Australia. Abeysinghe also touched upon the recent controversy regarding India’s refusal to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, advocating for the separation of sports and politics and suggesting that Naqvi’s actions may have been influenced by political considerations .