Who Should Captain India Post-Rohit? Fan Poll Results

As Rohit Sharma nears the twilight of his international cricket career, the big question on every Indian cricket fan’s mind is — Who should lead India next? With the T20 World Cup 2024 behind us and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, the debate over India’s next captain has gained serious momentum.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t made any official announcement yet, but a recent fan poll conducted in June 2025 by leading cricket forums and social media platforms offers some fascinating insight into what fans expect and desire. Let’s dive into the poll results, public sentiment, and the pros and cons of India’s potential future leaders.

🏏 The Fan Poll: Who Tops the List?

Over 1.2 million cricket fans voted across various platforms, including Cricbuzz, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit cricket communities. The poll asked a simple question: Who should captain India after Rohit Sharma retires or steps down?

Here are the top 5 contenders, according to the fan poll results as of June 25, 2025:

Hardik Pandya – 34%
Shubman Gill – 27%
KL Rahul – 16%
Rishabh Pant – 13%
Jasprit Bumrah – 7%

🔥 Hardik Pandya – The Front-Runner

With Hardik Pandya leading the poll by a solid margin, it’s clear fans value his aggressive style and leadership experience. Hardik previously captained the Gujarat Titans in the IPL and currently leads Mumbai Indians (2025 season). His leadership style is assertive yet calm — a combination that resonates well with the modern cricket era.

Pros: Proven IPL captain, tactically sharp, commands respect from younger players, aggressive match-finisher.
Cons: Frequent injuries and workload concerns, inconsistent form in red-ball cricket.

🌟 Shubman Gill – The Gen-Z Leader

At just 25, Shubman Gill has become a household name. After leading India A and consistently performing across formats, fans see him as the face of India’s cricketing future. His calm demeanor, sharp cricketing brain, and strong technique make him an appealing long-term choice.

Pros: Young, fit, composed, and highly consistent with the bat.
Cons: Relatively inexperienced in captaincy roles at senior level, especially under high pressure.

Still, many fans believe the BCCI should invest early in grooming Gill, much like they did with Virat Kohli under MS Dhoni.

🧠 KL Rahul – The Safe Option

Despite being polarizing at times, KL Rahul remains one of India’s most experienced players. With multiple stints as stand-in captain and leadership experience with Lucknow Super Giants, Rahul is seen as a “safe bet.”

Pros: Calm under pressure, experience across formats, liked by teammates.
Cons: Injuries, sometimes too passive in decision-making, T20 strike rate concerns.

At 33, Rahul may not be a long-term pick, but he could serve as a transitional leader if the BCCI wants more time to groom someone younger.

💥 Rishabh Pant – The X-Factor

Pant’s miraculous return in 2024 from his near-fatal car accident shocked and inspired the cricketing world. Now fully fit and back with Delhi Capitals and India’s white-ball squads, Pant has shown glimpses of strong tactical awareness.