<p>Salman Butt, a former Pakistan opener, is unsurprised by India's decision to select Rohit Sharma as the country's one-day international (ODI) captain instead of Virat Kohli. It is noteworthy that the senior men's selection committee announced on December 8 while also choosing an 18-member team for the forthcoming three-match Test series against South Africa.</p>



<p>Many were surprised by the decision, considering that Kohli had previously voiced his readiness to continue leading the One-Day International and Test teams while declaring his intention to stand aside as the T20I captain to manage his workload better. However, as things stand, he will only lead in the most extended format in the future.</p>



<p>In contrast to this, Salman Butt believes that the decision makes perfect sense. It will not only relieve Kohli of some of the pressure, but it will also allow him to enjoy greater freedom and liberty as a batter, given the fact that he has not been able to perform up to his expectations in the last couple of years.</p>



<h2>Kohli's performance will improve now that he has relieved his tremendous workload: Salman Butt.</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2021/12/20SalmanButt.jpg" alt="Salman Butt is not shocked that Rohit Sharma would lead India in ODIs" class="wp-image-81594" /></figure></div>



<p><em>"To be honest, this does not come as a surprise to me. It was always going to happen. This doesn't make any sense if he's just the captain for the Twenty20 Internationals. It makes it logical to separate the white balls from the red balls to lessen the amount of pressure placed on a certain player. India does not play many Twenty20 Internationals; instead, they prefer to play One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Tests. However, to lessen the amount of effort (on Kohli's part), the whole white-ball leadership has to go one way,"</em>?said Butt said in a video posted on his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC6_kYo7TXhcpfQCqaum5FQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube channel</a>.</p>



<h2>He is not surprised by this decision</h2>



<p><em>"As I have said, there is no element of surprise in this situation. Fortunately, Virat Kohli's performance will improve due to his severe workload, which will allow him to play better. The amount of cricket played by Indian teams is quite high, as it is now. Pressure becomes even more when all eyes are on him and everyone is talking about how he hasn't scored any runs. His 50-runs performances were insignificant in the eyes of the public. I believe this was an excellent change between Rohit Sharma and him,"</em>?stated Salman Butt.</p>



<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/kiran-more-is-in-favour-of-rohit-sharma-taking-over-as-odi-captain/">Kiran More is in favor of Rohit Sharma taking over as ODI captain</a></p>



<p>Earlier this month, Rohit led India to a 3-0 victory over New Zealand in the team's home Twenty20 International series, marking his first assignment as the team's full-time captain since Virat Kohli stood down after completing the Twenty20 World Cup in 2021. India will meet South Africa in their next series, which will consist of three Tests and as many One-Day Internationals (ODIs). The series will begin on December 26 with the first Test.</p>

Salman Butt is not shocked that Rohit Sharma would lead India in ODIs|Salman Butt is not shocked that Rohit Sharma would lead India in ODIs

Salman Butt is not shocked that Rohit Sharma would lead India in ODIs

salman-butt-is-not-shocked-that-rohit-sharma-would-lead-india-in-odis

<p>Ex-India wicketkeeper Kiran More, now a member of the selection committee, has lauded Rohit Sharma's appointment as ODI captain, calling it a "very sensible choice." Many others, including More, think that the choice should have been taken long ago, considering Kohli's exhaustion from playing all three formats.</p>



<p>The BCCI, while declaring India's 18-member team for the next Test series against South Africa on December 8, also notified the decision reached by the Chetan Sharma-led national selection committee. However, although the decision was not unexpected, how it was carried out did raise a few eyebrows, especially given Kohli's prior statements about his desire to remain as India's Test and One-Day International captain.</p>



<p>More, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of having a captain who can win ICC trophies, which India failed to do under Kohli despite having an exemplary record in bilateral series ? he ended up winning nearly 71 percent of the one-day internationals (ODIs) in which he led India and is the fourth-best ODI captain in the history of the game in terms of win percentage.</p>



<h2>Virat's bilateral records are outstanding, but you must win ICC tournaments to be successful: Kiran More.</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2021/12/jpg.webp" alt="Kiran More is in favour of Rohit Sharma taking over as ODI captain" class="wp-image-81590" /></figure></div>



<p><em>"It's a fantastic decision for the One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. I will not interfere with his (Virat Kohli's) position as captain of the Test squad. Virat has led India in two World Cups, the most recent in 2021. (50 overs in England and Twenty20 in the UAE). Virat's bilateral records are outstanding, but you must win ICC tournaments to be successful. It's critical to understand this,"</em>?stated Kiran More. More told <a href="https://www.news18.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">News18.com</a> that he believes the selectors made the right decision.</p>



<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/sunil-gavaskar-backs-rohit-sharma-to-be-indias-t20i-captain-for-t20-world-cup-2022/">Sunil Gavaskar backs Rohit Sharma to be India?s T20I captain for T20 World...</a></p>



<p><em>"Virat can take the lead in Test matches, and Rohit can do the same in white-ball contests. I'm pleased with how things have turned out. In retrospect, this should have taken place a long time ago. In both forms, there was a lot of pressure on Virat to perform well. It had taken its toll. It should have been possible to provide Rohit at least one format sooner,"</em>?he said.</p>



<h2>He also talked about Ajinkya Rahane</h2>



<p>Further, Rohit has been selected as India's new vice-captain, replacing Ajinkya Rahane, who has been picked to the team for the next series against South Africa despite his struggles with the bat. More believes that Rahane is under pressure even though he is a significant player.</p>



<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/harbhajan-singh-may-join-a-high-profile-ipl-club-before-the-2022-season/">Harbhajan Singh may join a high-profile IPL club before the 2022 season</a></p>



<p><em>"Ajinkya has a lot of time left in Test cricket. He is a high-caliber player. He will, without a doubt, have to do well since there is a lot of competition. In Australia, South Africa, and England, he has made significant and critical contributions when the situation called for it. He has produced solid hits, and he is a valuable member of the squad in his role as a batter,"</em>&nbsp;said Kiran More.</p>

Kiran More is in favour of Rohit Sharma taking over as ODI captain |Kiran More is in favour of Rohit Sharma taking over as ODI captain 

Kiran More is in favor of Rohit Sharma taking over as ODI captain

kiran-more-is-in-favour-of-rohit-sharma-taking-over-as-odi-captain

<p>Before the next season of the <a href="https://www.iplt20.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indian Premier League</a>, which will take place in 2022, it is expected that former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will join the coaching staff of a high-profile club.</p>



<p>While with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021, the 41-year-old spinner failed to make a single appearance throughout the season and is contemplating retirement from all forms of professional cricket.</p>



<p>Because he has been a member of the league from its start, he has 150 wickets at an average of 26.86 from 163 games, which is the most in the league's history. Meanwhile, even though it is not clear what role he would play for the IPL club, a source familiar with the situation has revealed that he will assist the team in its auction choices. The next season of the league will consist of ten clubs, with a super auction to be held before the competition.</p>



<p><em>"A consultant, mentor, or member of an advisory committee are all possible roles for him, but the franchise with which he is speaking wants to put his extensive knowledge to good use. He will play an active role in assisting the franchise in making their auction selections,"</em>&nbsp;a source close to News18 revealed.</p>



<p>Harbhajan Singh, a veteran of 103 Tests, 236 One-Day Internationals, and 28 Twenty20 Internationals, has always had a soft spot for developing new players. He previously played for two of the most successful IPL franchises, the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. During his time with the Kolkata Knight Riders, he was able to pass on valuable knowledge to mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who went on to be named to India's T20 World Cup squad for the following year.</p>



<h2>Harbhajan Singh will probably announce his retirement next week</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2021/12/harbhajansingh_1200x768.webp" alt="Harbhajan Singh may join a high-profile IPL club before the 2022 season" class="wp-image-81586" /></figure></div>



<p>When Harbhajan Singh was with him in the KKR dressing room, Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who just made his international debut during the home series against New Zealand, said that Harbhajan had referred to him as a "big player."</p>



<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/expected-captains-of-all-10-ipl-teams-in-ipl-2022/">IPL 2022: Expected Captains of all 10 IPL teams in IPL 2022</a></p>



<p><em>"Take it from me, Harbhajan intended to make an official declaration of his retirement when the season was over. He has had extensive discussions with one of the franchises that has shown strong interest, but he would want to speak about it until when the agreement has been signed in writing,"</em>&nbsp;the person added.</p>



<p>Next week, Harbhajan is expected to publicly declare his retirement from cricket. He will then decide which offers he has received to become a member of the support staff of at least a couple of teams he would accept.</p>



<p>In fact, during the previous season, KKR's Head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Eoin Morgan both considered Harbhajan's recommendations while making squad selections.</p>

Harbhajan Singh may join a high-profile IPL club before the 2022 season|Harbhajan Singh may join a high-profile IPL club before the 2022 season

Harbhajan Singh may join a high-profile IPL club before the 2022 season

harbhajan-singh-may-join-a-high-profile-ipl-club-before-the-2022-season

<h2>ODI leadership was handed over to Rohit Sharma from Virat Kohli after the BCCI announced through Twitter that the selectors "decided to appoint" Rohit as the team's limited-overs leader moving forward</h2>



<p>Following India's early exit from the UAE T20 World Cup in 2021, Rohit Sharma was named the new ODI skipper by the All India Senior Selection Committee on Wednesday (December 8). He replaces Virat Kohli, who had just recently ceded the T20I leadership after the team's early exit.</p>



<p>However, Kohli's decision to step down as merely the team's T20I skipper meant that India had made the first step toward adopting divided leadership for the first time, although he was motivated to remain heading both ODI and Test teams. Because of the widely accepted paradigm of dividing leadership responsibilities between the white-ball and red-ball formats, it was predicted that the baton's handover would occur soon in one-day internationals.</p>



<h3>Rohit Sharma is now the limited-overs captain for India</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2021/12/FESaDxyVQAI0mf8-scaled-1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli Refused To Leave ODI Captaincy, BCCI Forced This Decision | Rohit Sharma" class="wp-image-81558" /><figcaption>Rohit Sharma - India's New Limited-Overs Captain</figcaption></figure>



<p>On December 8, it was shown to be correct.<em>?"All-India Senior Selection Committee also agreed to select Mr Rohit Sharma as the captain of the ODI and T20I teams moving ahead,"</em>?said a <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1468577752953483264?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BCCI tweet</a> as the board revealed an 18-man squad for the next three-Test series in South Africa.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1468577752953483264?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
</div></figure>



<p>However, unlike the last occurrence, when Kohli revealed his choice in the public arena, the board of selectors "agreed to identify" Rohit as the captain "going forward" in the transfer of the ODI leadership, which was shocking.</p>



<p>Hours later, more reports indicate that skepticism about the development isn't a bad idea. Although the BCCI offered Kohli the chance to stand down on his own, the cricket board and the Chetan Sharma-led panel were forced to decide on his behalf.</p>



<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/shane-warne-discloses-smiths-answer-to-his-vice-captaincy-criticism/">Shane Warne Discloses Steve Smith?s Answer To Shane Warne?s Criticism Of him Being Australia?s Test?Vice-Captain</a></p>



<p>Thanks to this outcome, Kohli's time in charge of the Indian cricket team would come to a close without an ICC trophy in limited-overs tournaments. After MS Dhoni's retirement in 2017, Kohli became India's full-time captain and guided the team to 65 victories in 95 one-day internationals. Despite his success in bilaterals, he could not lead India to a multi-team event championship, which has been over eight years since India's previous multi-team ICC tournament triumph under Dhoni in 2013.</p>



<h3>Kohli finished his limited-overs captaincy tenure without an ICC Trophy win</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2021/12/2021_12largeimg_2027727773.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli Refused To Leave ODI Captaincy, BCCI Forced This Decision" class="wp-image-81559" /><figcaption>Virat Kohli ends his limited-overs captaincy tenure</figcaption></figure></div>



<p>India lost to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final in 2017, while the squad was knocked out of the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-finals after losing to New Zealand, who also beat India in the first World Test Championship final in 2021. Both defeats came under Kohli's leadership.</p>



<p>Ajinkya Rahane was off of form, and Rohit took up the Test vice-captaincy, but he is no stranger to managing a team. Since taking over as captain of the Mumbai Indians in 2013, Rohit has been unequaled in the Indian Premier League.</p>



<p>Despite a tiny sample size in international captaincy, he has led India to eight of the 10 ODI victories, including the 2018 Asia Cup as a stand-in for Virat Kohli. Rohit has a record of 18 victories in 22 games in the shorter format, including three in his first full-time captaincy series against New Zealand.</p>

Virat Kohli Refused To Leave ODI Captaincy, BCCI Forced This Decision|Virat Kohli Refused To Leave ODI Captaincy, BCCI Forced This Decision | Rohit Sharma|Virat Kohli Refused To Leave ODI Captaincy, BCCI Forced This Decision

REPORTS: Virat Kohli's Steadfast Refusal To Stand Down As ODI Captain Led To The BCCI Unilaterally Selecting Rohit Sharma

virat-kohli-refused-to-leave-odi-captaincy-bcci-forced-this-decision

<p>Shane Warne, a former Australian cricketer, has stated that he had a conversation with Steve Smith. A call from the batter informed him of the widespread public displeasure and criticism of his selection as the vice-captain of the Test squad, he claimed in a statement. The former spinner went on to say that both of them spoke it out and respected one other's viewpoints on the matter.</p>



<p>Smith was barred from performing leadership responsibilities due to the sandpaper incident that occurred in South Africa in 2018. On the other hand, Smith signaled his return to the leadership post after being designated as Pat Cummins's replacement. Before this, Warne had claimed that the batter did not deserve to be the one who had to bear the burden. He has also criticized Cricket Australia (CA) for the same reason.</p>



<p><em>"I had a conversation with Steve Smith. He sent me a message saying, 'Jeez, you're being a little hard on me, aren't you?' and we had a good chat about it. That is what respect accomplishes. Just because someone does not agree with your point of view does not imply that you must be rude and personal about it. Everyone is entitled to their own viewpoint,"</em>?Warne stated after the first day of the first Ashes Test in 2021, in an interview with <a href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/australia-vs-england-ashes-2021-steve-smith-contacted-shane-warne-after-public-criticism-video-highlights/news-story/056d80cd77d2558d733c1b78eb2e3db1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fox Cricket</a>.</p>



<h2>I was overjoyed. Steve Smith got in touch with me: Shane Warne?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2021/12/shane-warne-1200.jpg" alt="Shane Warne discloses Smith's answer to his vice-captaincy criticism" class="wp-image-81535" /></figure></div>



<p>When asked how he felt after Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Warne said he was grateful that Smith had phoned him. He went on to say that the two of them had previously worked together at the Rajasthan Royals and that they had a great deal of respect for one another.</p>



<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/bcci-announced-21-members-strong-indias-squad-for-the-tour-of-south-africa-2021/">BCCI announced 21 members strong India?s squad for the tour of South Africa 2021</a></p>



<p>"I was delighted when Steve Smith got in touch with me since I consider him a friend. At the Rajasthan Royals, we've participated in team meetings and worked together. I used to work with him when he was bowling, and I believe he was a leg-spinner at one point. So, we have mutual regard for one another, and it was kind of him to call me and ask, 'Mate, why did you believe that? I explained my point of view to him, and he responded by saying, 'I get it, and I'm sure a lot of other people feel the same way,'" Warne stated.</p>



<p>The former spinner elaborated on the chat, stating that both of them had decided to politely disagree on the subject matter at hand. Warne said what Smith told him,&nbsp;<em>"Mate, you've been in the game for 30 or so years, you've earned the right to have your opinion, and I respect it, but I just do not agree with it. If you have a different point of view, that's OK; I just believe there's been too much of it."&nbsp;</em></p>

Shane Warne discloses Smith's answer to his vice-captaincy criticism|Shane Warne discloses Smith's answer to his vice-captaincy criticism

Shane Warne Discloses Steve Smith's Answer To Shane Warne's Criticism Of him Being Australia's Test?Vice-Captain

shane-warne-discloses-smiths-answer-to-his-vice-captaincy-criticism

India-A will face Pakistan-A in the sixth match of the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup on November 16 at West End Park International Cricket Ground in Doha. Both teams have won their opening matches, with India-A led by Vaibhav Suryavanshi (144 runs) and Jitesh Sharma (81 runs). A win for India-A will secure their semi-final spot. The match will start at 8:00 PM IST, with the toss at 7:30 PM IST, and can be watched live on Sony Ten or for free on the Pikashow and Cricfy apps.

India-A vs Pakistan-A Rising Stars Asia Cup: How to stream the match without paying a single rupee in India

india-a-vs-pakistan-a-rising-stars-asia-cup-how-to-stream-the-match-without-paying-a-single-rupee-in-india

Gautam Gambhir shockingly said there were no demons in the pitch  of IND vs SA first test.

Gautam Gambhir’s ‘exactly the pitch we were looking for’ remark creates havoc! Head coach blames batters and not the pitch after loss to SA in Kolkata

gautam-gambhir-s-exactly-the-pitch-we-were-looking-for-remark-creates-havoc-head-coach-blames-batters-and-not-the-pitch-after-loss-to-sa-in-kolkata-

Kolkata Knight Riders are going to the IPL 2026 Auction with the highest purse of Rs. 64.50 crore after releasing 10 players including some big names.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) 2026 Retained & Released Players, Purse Balance, Player Salary, Available Slots & Big Trades Updates Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction

kolkata-knight-riders-kkr-2026-retained-released-players-purse-balance-player-salary-available-slots-big-trades-updates-ahead-of-ipl-2026-auction

The third ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka takes place today, November 16, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with Pakistan leading the series 2-0. Babar Azam's century in the second ODI gave Pakistan a dominant win, while Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, seeks a consolation victory to salvage pride. With Shaheen Shah Afridi back, Pakistan aims for a clean sweep. The match will be streamed live on the Sports TV YouTube channel, as it won't be broadcast on Indian TV.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI - How to stream the match without paying a single rupee in India

pakistan-versus-sri-lanka-third-odi-how-to-stream-the-match-without-paying-a-single-rupee-in-india

South Africa defeated India at Eden Gardens by 30 runs and with this victory, South Africa jumps to the second position in the latest ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 Points Table.

Gill Injured… India Destroyed! What Went Wrong for India against South Africa in Eden Gardens | IND vs SA 1st Test 2025

gill-injured-india-destroyed-what-went-wrong-for-india-against-south-africa-in-eden-gardens-ind-vs-sa-1st-test-2025

South Africa's historic win over India in the Kolkata Test lifted them to second place in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table with 66.67% points, while India dropped to fourth with 54.17%. Australia remains at the top with a perfect 100%. Sri Lanka moved up to third, and Pakistan, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, and New Zealand occupy the lower spots, with New Zealand yet to play a match in this cycle.

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