Aaron Finch Counters Sunil Gavaskar’s Call to Replace Rohit Sharma as Captain Ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar recently stirred debate by suggesting a leadership change in the Indian squad if Rohit Sharma misses the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gavaskar argued that India, after a tough 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand, needs consistency in leadership throughout the five-match Test series against Australia, starting November 22. If Rohit, who may be absent from the first two Tests for personal reasons, cannot lead from the start, Gavaskar believes India should appoint a new captain for the entire tour.

“We’ve heard that Rohit Sharma might miss the first Test, possibly even the second. If that’s the case, the Indian selectors should announce a full-time captain for this series,” Gavaskar said in an interview with Sports Tak. He emphasized that a stable leader is crucial to unifying the team after a disappointing series loss. “If you’re missing two-thirds of the matches, you should go as a player only, letting the vice-captain lead.”

However, Gavaskar’s suggestion met resistance from former Australian captain Aaron Finch, who defended Rohit’s potential absence. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Finch called Gavaskar’s proposal unnecessary, saying, “I disagree with Sunny on that totally. Rohit Sharma is the captain of the Indian cricket team. If he needs to stay home because his wife is having a baby… that’s a beautiful moment, and he should take all the time he needs for that.”

As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy draws near, the question of who will lead the Indian side if Rohit is unavailable continues to spark discussion. Yet, for now, Finch and many fans stand by Rohit’s right to prioritize family while still retaining his leadership role.

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