India's two experienced players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had a forgettable outing in the first ODI against Australia in Perth on October 19. While the former was dismissed for a duck, the latter was out for just eight runs. The match also saw new ODI leader Shubman Gill taking charge from his predecessor Rohit. The Mumbai batter's low returns sparked a flurry of speculation on social media, with majority of fans suggesting the veteran may have deliberately under performed, to challenge the new skipper's appointment at the helm of things.
The reactions from some of the fans quickly went viral, drawing reactions from cricket fans across the globe. However, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar dismissed the rubbish claims, stressing that no player would intentionally risk under performing, as it would prove to be a cascading effect on their place in the team.
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"In Indian Cricket, there's a persistent myth that a player who loses the captaincy might under perform to underestimate the new skipper," Gavaskar wrote in his Sportstar column. "Nothing could be further from the truth. If a former captain doesn't perform, he could be out of the team entirely. No player, regardless of personal feelings, would deliberately throw a game."
Having two experienced leaders on the side huge advantage for Gill: Gavaskar
Gavaskar also stressed the point that having experienced captains like Rohit and Kohli in the team is a massive advantage for a young captain like Gill. The duo's presence provides a calming effect, mentorship, and guidance, which can help the young and new skipper navigate his debut series.
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"Questions have been raised about whether Gill can handle two former captains in his team. But he has made it clear that his relationship with Rohit and Virat hasn't changed with his new role," Gavaskar added. "In fact, having them around is a bonus. Both are willing to advice to offer advice when needed, there's no better support for a debutant captain than two of India's greatest ODI players by his side."
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