The next logical choice may be Rohit Sharma, as he was recently promoted to Test vice-captain, ahead of the Test series against South Africa, despite missing the tour through injury. So should the coaches and team management go with Rohit or should they consider a long-term bet and appoint a youngster?
Here we take a look at what works for and against the main contenders for India’s next Test Captain:
Rohit Sharma
(Twitter pic)
What works: The next logical test skipper. He was named Test vice-captain, replacing Ajinkya Rahane ahead of the South Africa Test series. Since returning to the test team in early 2021, for the final two tests of the series in Australia, Rohit has been an outstanding performer. He has already captained the white ball teams and making him captain would return Indian cricket to a leading state on the pitch in all three formats. This could facilitate vital team selection, overall decision making, etc. Rohit is also universally recognized as a good manager and is respected by his fellow cricketers. Several reports over the years explained that Rohit was always patient with the players and gave them whatever support or guidance they needed. He is also a key player in the squad and a first choice in any format, when fit. As a batsman, Rohit is a proven champion and can lead the team forward. He may not wear his heart on his sleeve, but his captaincy for Mumbai Indians over the years has shown that he is passionate enough to be an effective leader. His second wind as a test cricketer and his promotion to first place worked for Rohit the test cricketer. Going forward, India will be playing vital series in all formats and Rohit will be a key man, very at the heart of things. The second edition of the Test World Championship is underway, the next T20I World Cup will be played later this year and 2023 will see the next edition of the ICC ODI World Cup be played. In these busy times, having a captain in all formats at the helm could help settle things, as the team goes through a leadership transition.
What does not work: Aptitude. This is the key element that selectors and team management must consider if they want to appoint Rohit as the next Test captain. He has been plagued with injuries throughout his career. He was not part of the recently concluded test series in South Africa due to a hamstring injury. The same has kept him out of the ODI series against the Proteas which starts on Wednesday. Can he handle the rigors of constantly playing all three formats? If he is only a team player or the vice-captain, he can be replaced by someone when he is injured, but as captain he will have to play most games, if not all. . If the coaches are considering a long-term option then Rohit, at 34, may not be it.
R Ashvin
(Photo PTI)
What works for him: A thinking cricketer. An avid player and champion bowler. There has always been a certain reluctance to make a bowler a captain – on all teams. Bowlers need breaks, they may not always be close to the action when bowling. They can be accused of over-bowling or under-bowling themselves, as Jason Gillespie recently said on TOI Sportscast when talking about Pat Cummins, who became Australia’s first speed bowling captain since Ray Lindwall in 1956. which itself was a tentative arrangement for a test. . But India has a good example of this with Anil Kumble, another champion spinner who led India admirably, before MS Dhoni took over as skipper in all formats. Extremely experienced and outspoken, Ashwin could be a fearless choice if that’s what the breeders are looking for. If the opposition need to be pressured via clever field placements or out-of-the-box bowling changes, Ashwin can deliver. His own test credentials, as an efficient lower-order bowler and batsman, speak for themselves.
What doesn’t work: Devices abroad. This is when Aswhin tends to lose his place in the team, especially in pace-friendly conditions. Ravindra Jadeja is usually the preferred choice. In the three Test series against South Africa recently, Ashwin was not forced to bowl and took 3 wickets. However, India will not play Tests outside the subcontinent until 2024. If an interim arrangement is what the powers that be are considering, then Ashwin may be an option. At 35, it will not be a long-term bet.
Rishabh Pants
(Getty Images)
What works for him: A long term bet. At 24, Pant is a regular in the playing eleven in all three formats. So if the selectors are looking for a long-term test captain, he could be. Moreover, as a wicket-keeper, Pant has an almost 360-degree view of the game. He has also shown that criticism does not reach him easily. His technique and panache of playing reckless shots didn’t win him too many admirers, but he didn’t try to change his game too much either. In the third Test against South Africa, his century of fighting was the biggest positive for Team India and efforts like that really lift the spirits of the team. As he is very young, he will also be open to fresh ideas from senior citizens and will not be too set in his own ways.
What does not work: Many believe that Pant still needs time to settle in as a goalkeeper-beater first, before being handed the huge responsibility of being India Test captain. Dilip Vengsarkar, a former Indian cricketer and former chairman of the selectors, told The Times of India how in 2007 for the Test series against Pakistan, the selectors chose to hand the position of Test captain to Anil Kumble, even if a young MS Dhoni had ever been made captain. . The selectors wanted Dhoni to learn from Kumble. Overall inexperience might prevent Pant from receiving the test stick. There is also the question of how the captaincy could potentially affect his stick. Pant may be a match winner his day, but will he be able to juggle the triple responsibilities of goalkeeper, key batsman and captain?
KL Rahul
(AFP photo)
What works: Rahul in many ways may be ahead of Pant on this pecking order. He has already captained the Indian Test team (in the second Test against South Africa) and was a limited vice-captain in the past. In the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, Rahul will lead the side, which also includes Virat Kohli, in the absence of injured Rohit Sharma. Over the years, Rahul has evolved as a drummer and has adapted his game to all formats, which commands respect. Although not a first-choice choice as a Test opener, Rahul has shown that given the job he can deliver results. His 123 in the Centurion Test against the Proteas showed that and helped him walk away with the Man of the Match award. He’s 29, so it can also be a long-term bet. Another thing that works for Rahul is the fact that his personality is extremely calm and collected. He doesn’t let his emotions get the best of him and it’s a trait many would consider something a captain should have, especially considering the many debates Virat Kohli found himself involved in when he was captain. , due to his openly aggressive attitude. character on the ground.
What does not work: Does he already have what it takes to be a successful Test captain or does he need to be better prepared? Is it too early to hand over the reins of the Test team to him? Rahul, as captain of the Punjab Kings in the IPL, has shown that the added responsibility does not affect his batting, but Test cricket is a completely different story. There is also a school of thought that Rahul has yet to cement his place in the Indian Test by playing XI. Remember he was the third choice Test opener after Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal. He made the most of some of the opportunities that came his way, but what if he fails with the bat in a few series? If his place in the team is not assured, can he then be named captain?
Jasprit Bumrah
(ANI Photo)
What works for him: Calm and collected yet aggressive enough to attack the opposition. Bumrah is 28 and has cemented his place in the side, in all formats. In fact, he is considered India’s strongest fast bowling option currently and the spearhead. It commands respect. He also made it clear that he is more than willing to take on the responsibility if and when it is handed to him, saying if given the chance it would be an honor for Captain India – effectively throwing his hat in the ring . Bumrah can be regularly seen in team meetings while field placements and bowling changes are discussed on the field. He is someone whose opinion clearly matters. He seems to share a good relationship with his fellow fast bowlers, even those above him, and with other team members. A bowler is someone the team receives regularly to hit the field. When someone who is also a good manager is made skipper, as Cummins was recently for the Australians, it can reap rich dividends. Bumrah also appears to have a very mature head on his shoulders and if a long-term fast bowling captain is something selectors are good with, Bumrah could be the man for the job.
What does not work: What happens when he’s injured? A fast bowler is always prone to injury. Recently, in the first test against South Africa at Centurion, Bumrah twisted his ankle while bowling on Day 3 and scared the team. Bumrah also plays all three formats, so he cannot be reserved for Test cricket only. Workload management, especially for fast bowlers, is a very high priority for the team and if Bumrah gets the test captain job, it could get tricky.
TimesofIndia.com has conducted a poll asking readers and fans to vote for the player they think should replace Virat Kohli as the next India Test captain. There were 6 options given – Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and someone else.
Here are the results :
Rohit Sharma received the maximum number of votes. Interestingly, Rishabh Pant got the second highest number of votes, behind Rohit.
Full survey results:
