Champions Trophy 2025: Shubman Gill to Lead India? Last Time When Indian Captain Missed Match in Major ODI Tournament

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Shubman Gill is reportedly set to make his captaincy debut in One Day Internationals, standing in for skipper Rohit Sharma in India's final group stage match of the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand on Sunday (March 2).

According to the Indian Express, Indian team management is considering resting regular captain Rohit from the inconsequential match. This will be as precaution after Rohit hurt his hamstring during India's victory over Pakistan last week.

Gill stepped in when Rohit left the field for a brief period in the clash against Pakistan. Reports also added that Rohit was the only Indian batter to not bat in the nets during India's rigorous training session on Wednesday (February 26).

Although the injury is not believed to be serious, the Indian think tank may prefer to rest the skipper with the semi-final taking place just two days after the meeting with New Zealand. If rested, this will not be the first time an Indian captain has missed a match in a major tournament.

Last Time When Indian Captain Missed Match in Major ODI Tournament

There have been several instances when India has been forced to name a stand-in captain for a series or a tournament over the years. But very rarely has there been a time when the captain missed a match midway through the tournament.

Anil Kumble, who had a spell as skipper for the Test team, had previously made his captaincy bow in ODIs during a series against England at home in 2002 when Sourav Ganguly the then regular captain missed the third and final ODI of the series.

While that was during a bilateral series, there has been one recent instance when an Indian captain rested in a match during a major tournament. And even that time it involved Rohit, who himself was the stand-in skipper for an injured Virat Kohli.

In the 2018 Asia Cup, Rohit and then vice captain Shikhar Dhawan were rested from India's last Super Four match, against Afghanistan, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni being named captain of the side in their absence.

MS Dhoni, one of the most successful captains of Indian cricket, had quit international captaincy in 2017, but got the opportunity to become the first cricketer to lead India 200 times in ODIs by leading the team in that match.

Dhoni also became the oldest player to lead India in an ODI. The match will be a memorable one as it finished in a tie as Afghanistan managed to bundle out India for 252, the total they had set after electing to bat first at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai, co-incidentally India face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy at the same venue.